VALUES AND SUBJECTS FOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN AFRICAN MUSEUMS: MODEL PROGRAMS IN CRAFTS, DEBATES & ESSAY COMPETITIONS, DRAMA, EXHIBITIONS, AND TOURS. OUTCOME FROM THE GROUP FOR CHILDREN IN AFRICAN MUSEUMS (GCAM) PROGRAMME ORGANISED BY COMMONWELTH ASSOCIATION OF MUSEUMS(CAM). What values or subjects do we need to teach children and young people to change our society for the better and enable them to make a contribution to the development of our communities and our nation. CRAFT DEVELOPMENT DEBATE AND ESSAY DRAMA PRESENTATION EXHIBITION EXCURSION AND EDUCATIONAL TOURS CRAFT DEVELOPMENT: At present, African nations are faced with a lot of socio political and economic problems, corruption, poverty, incessant outbreak of diseases, unemployment, insecurity, armed robberies, religious and ethnic conflict. These problems principally stem from negative values that are prevalent today. Some of these problems are caused by the extinction of our cultural values, and both young and old have imbibed the habit of get rich quick syndrome. And parents are not usually keen to find out the source of their children’s or husbands riches. And this has further caused a breakdown in every sphere of our society, thereby affecting seriously dignity of labour, self reliance, and hard work etc. of which Africa is known for. Therefore, the Museum and related cultural agencies have been mandated to fashion out programmes based on our value system, that will correct these vices. Some of these programmes the Museum has designed include craft development. Objectives: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Self Reliance and empowerment Economic independence Survival skills To curb youth restiveness and idleness To engage the youth in meaningful activities To keep the youth off the street(drug abuse, thuggery, gangsterism, drunkenness, teenage pregnancy) Methodology: 1. 2. 3. 4. Craft workshop for teachers (TOT) Market women training Housewives training Students from various levels from school art and craft clubs for weekends and summer holiday 5. School visitations (schools for the physically challenged, orphanages) Target Group: One Hundred (100) participants, basically youth drawn from schools, street children and all spheres of the society. Target Audience One Hundred and Fifty people, comprising: 1. 2. 3. 4. Students from primary, secondary and tertiary schools. Parents and teachers Foreigners, and The general public. Duration The programme will run for one year simultaneously in all the museums and other related agencies. Budgets Since the programme will run simultaneously throughout the museums/ related agencies all over Africa, therefore we have decided to have an estimate budget for one museum from which we can have an estimated budget of the overall. Estimated Budget for One Museum 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Publicity(Banners, fliers, invitation cards, posters, radio/Tv jingles) Press and public relations Entertainment (food and drinks)@ N500:00 for 250 participants Materials for various crafts Transportation/ logistics Facilitators(Bead making, Tie & Dye/Batik, Aso Oke weaving, Basketry/Cane weaving, Pottery) @ N100,000:00 each 7. 500 copies of Brochure @ N500:00 each Grand Total N2,000,000:00 N500,000:00 N125,000:00 N300,000:00 N150,000:00 N500,000:00 N250,000:00 N3,825,000:00 Funding 1. Public Private partnership (PPP) will be explored 2. Aggressive sponsorship drive to Multinationals i.e Oil companies, Donor agencies i.e UNDP, UNICEF, and other youth friendly agencies. Evaluation/ Conclusion At the end of the programme, the children should be able to present finished products from the workshop that will be exhibited for the appreciation of the general public. Thereafter, there will be a follow up to ascertain that the training has been internalised. The museum at the end should be able to help out the indigent participants to establish their learnt skills for empowerment and economic gains. The trained teachers will also go back to their schools to impact the knowledge to their students. CULTURE OF PEACE AND DIALOGUE: DEBATE AND ESSAY COMPETITION For decades now, our dear nation has been faced with serious challenges in almost every sphere of our lives, and our peaceful coexistence is seriously threatened. At one time, children/ young people are blamed for this. At another time, adults are blamed to get the true situation from the point of view of innocence. Youths are chosen for this debate because of their radical approach to issues to tell us point blank who is responsible and how best to go about it. Objectives: 1. It will afford the students the ample opportunity to air their views about what is going on in the society 2. It will give them a one time opportunity to have a say in the matter 3. It will give the platform to address the problems and as well as tell the adults where they have failed 4. The students in the course of the debate will be given the grounds to proffer solution to the problems 5. It will help the adults to correct themselves and have a rethink about their negative behaviour in the presence of the children 6. The children would have discovered by themselves the consequences of such actions that lead to the breakdown of peace and therefore learn to correct themselves 7. Adults would have the opportunity of knowing the problems of the youth and design how to engage them meaningfully through empowerment programmes and given equal opportunities. Methodology: 1. Debate, formation of culture of peace club in schools 2. Sponsorship 3. Rotation to other locations 4. Letters will be sent to schools to prepare for or against the topic. Target Group: Fifty students (50) from twenty five (25) senior secondary schools. Target Audience: Two Hundred (200) people, comprising: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Students from primary, secondary and tertiary schools. Parents and teachers Religious leaders and opinion leaders Traditional rulers and politicians Market women Foreigners, and 7. The general public. Duration Periodic Budgets Since the programme will run simultaneously throughout the museums/ related agencies all over Africa, therefore we have decided to have an estimate budget for one museum from which we can have an estimated budget of the overall. Estimated Budget for One Museum 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Publicity(Banners, fliers, invitation cards, posters, radio/Tv jingles) Press and public relations Entertainment (food and drinks)@ N500:00 for 250 participants Transportation/ logistics Moderator, judges and time keeper @ N20,000:00 each Prizes and gifts Grand Total N2,000,000:00 N500,000:00 N125,000:00 N150,000:00 N60,000:00 N200,000:00 N3,035,000:00 Funding 1. Public Private partnership (PPP) will be explored 2. Aggressive sponsorship drive to Multinationals i.e Oil companies, Donor agencies i.e UNDP, UNICEF, and other youth friendly agencies. Evaluation/ Conclusion The audience will have their contributions after the debate and there will be communiqué to highlights the points raised and sent to schools and also to government for implementation. The debate will be aired in both print and electronic media periodically for wider reach. DRAMA PRESENTATION: Our societal values have been seriously eroded by western culture and technology. Our children no longer appreciate our way of life. The African values and traditions used to be a basic guide and educational tool for children’s upbringing. We in the museum and related agencies have therefore decided to use drama / community theatre to draw the attention of our youths to what they are not doing well in a bid to correcting them. Objectives: 1. To sensitise the youth on the importance of our culture and the virtues of having positive attitude towards life 2. To introduce them into acting which they may take up as a career in future 3. To help them have a sense of identity and respect for tradition Methodology: The children will be used as casts to get them fully involved in the drama Target Group: Fifty (50) participants drawn from secondary schools and the streets. Target Audience: Two Hundred (200) people, comprising: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Students from primary, secondary and tertiary schools. Parents and teachers Street children Foreigners, and The general public. Duration Three (3) times in a year. Budgets Since the programme will run simultaneously throughout the museums/ related agencies all over Africa, therefore we have decided to have an estimate budget for one museum from which we can have an estimated budget of the overall. Estimated Budget for One Museum 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Publicity(Banners, fliers, invitation cards, posters, radio/Tv jingles) Press and public relations Entertainment (food and drinks)@ N500:00 for 250 participants Costumes for drama Transportation/ logistics N2,000,000:00 N500,000:00 N125,000:00 N300,000:00 N150,000:00 6. Instructors @ N100,000:00 for five (5) instructors Grand Total N500,000:00 N3,575,000:00 Funding 1. Public Private partnership (PPP) will be explored 2. Aggressive sponsorship drive to Multinationals i.e Oil companies, Donor agencies i.e UNDP, UNICEF, and other youth friendly agencies. Evaluation/ Conclusion The children and the general public will discuss the outcome and impact of the drama through interviews, opinion polls, responses and so on, to access if the issues raised were well treated. This will allow for a possible follow up. EXHIBITION THEME: CULTURAL VALUES AS TOOLS FOR SOCIETAL DEVELOPMENT TOPIC: DRUG AND TERRORISM A Chinese adage says “rather than give a child fish, teach him to fish”. To build up children’s self esteem, confidence, excellence, creativity, sense of pride and dignity in labour, self reliance. The museums are also empowered to design programmes that will showcase the children’s talents to the general public for appreciation and purchase in an effort to empower the youths economically through exhibitions, both travelling and permanent. Objectives: 1. 2. 3. 4. To showcase their works and their intellectual abilities to the general public To address topical issues that are prevalent in our society To empower them as their works are sold to the public To use visual arts as a means to fight the ills of the society Methodology: 1. Schools will be written to produce art works reflecting on the theme of the exhibition 2. This exhibition will be a travelling or touring exhibition to the grassroots 3. Junior secondary schools students will be assigned to do paintings on drug abuse and addiction 4. Senior secondary schools students will be assigned to do paintings on terrorism 5. Both exhibitions will run simultaneously Target Group: Fifty (50) participants drawn from junior and senior secondary schools. Twenty five (25) students from each category Target Audience: The exhibition will be opened to the general public Duration: One week in every month for a period of one year. Budgets: Since the programme will run simultaneously throughout the museums/ related agencies all over Africa, therefore we have decided to have an estimate budget for one museum from which we can have an estimated budget of the overall. Estimated Budget for One Museum 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Publicity(Banners, fliers, invitation cards, posters, radio/Tv jingles) Press and public relations Light refreshment on the opening of the exhibition Exhibition materials Construction of 30 exhibition screens @ N20,000:00 Construction of 30 exhibition stands @ N15,000:00 Art production materials Transportation/ logistics Grand Total N2,000,000:00 N500,000:00 N150,000:00 N200,000:00 N600,000:00 N450,000:00 N300,000:00 N150,000:00 N4,350,000:00 Funding 1. Public Private partnership (PPP) will be explored 2. Aggressive sponsorship drive to Multinationals i.e. Oil companies, Donor agencies i.e. UNDP, UNICEF, and other youth friendly agencies. Evaluation/ Conclusion 1. Interviews 2. Opinion polls 3. Responses From the above, we will be able to access if the exhibition has addressed some or all of the objectives. EXCURSIONS / EDUCATIONAL TOURS Our children and youths, these days tend to spend more time either indoors focusing on the internet or outdoors engaging in numerous vices, which usually does no good to our society. Therefore, the museums can engage children in meaningful outdoor activities, such as excursions and educational tours to places such as rehabilitation homes, prisons, heritage sites, parks and botanical gardens, traditional events and festivals e.t.c. Objectives: 1. Appreciation of our rich cultural values and norms 2. Peaceful coexistence 3. Expose them to our culture and increase awareness to the importance of our cultural heritage 4. Ethnic and religious tolerance and acceptance 5. Inter relationship among the youths Methodology: 1. Identification of safe places of interest including heritage sites, monuments, galleries, slave routes, botanical gardens, rehabilitation centres, prisons, festivals, higher institutions e.t.c. 2. We write to the schools to indicate interest and nominate students to participate in the excursion 3. The students will be grouped according to ages or levels Target Group: Fifty (50) participants drawn from junior and senior secondary schools. Twenty five (25) students from each category Duration The visitations spans throughout the year on rotational basis (one visit per month). Budgets: Since the programme will run simultaneously throughout the museums/ related agencies all over Africa, therefore we have decided to have an estimate budget for one museum from which we can have an estimated budget of the overall. This budget is based on one month programme. Estimated Budget for One Museum 1. 2. 3. 4. Publicity and press Transportation Hiring a mobile clinic bus Refreshment N1,300,000:00 N400,000:00 N350,000:00 N250,000:00 5. Logistics and local runs Grand Total N200,000:00 N2,500,000:00 Funding 3. Public Private partnership (PPP) will be explored Aggressive sponsorship drive to Multinationals i.e. Oil companies, Donor agencies i.e. UNDP, UNICEF, and other youth friendly agencies. Evaluation/ Conclusion 1. Interviews 2. Opinion polls 3. Responses From the above, we will be able to access if the exhibition has addressed some or all of the objectives.