This year, the Connect Kids Program focuses on agricultural changes and climate justice - two issue of critical critical importance in Kenya. US youth are connected with Kenyan youth touse technology platforms to create and share stories, ideas, games, and art - all to call attention to possible solutions and impact climate crisis.
In 2013 Small Solutions began Connect Kids Programs in the Greater Newburyport area. We had joined with One Planet Education Network in a Multi-Player game to immerse youth in the challenges of protecting the Black Rhino. This event connected our team in Bugoma, a group in Nairobi, and students in the Bronx in a multi-event series of game playing, research, media creation and Skype discussions about the Black Rhino. Number of Students Involved 50. Number of Sites
Connected: 3. Number of Countries: US and Kenya In Newburyport Small Solutions conducted a 6 week program at the Salisbury Girls and Boys club sharing the culture of Kenya, as well as the endangered wildlife issues. There were 12 children here in the US and another dozen in Kenya who participated. The students produced videos of their own culture, exchanged questions about dress, food, and customs. We invited local Kenyans to visit and teach the children Swahili and some songs. The students on both side are highly motivated in these activities, and encouraged about their future. The outcomes of this are on going, as the children continue to produce art, drama and music as they continue with their wildlife studies. In 2014 we conducted a class at the Newburyport Youth Services with a small group of children, who also made videos, engaged in Skype exchanges with Kenyan kids, sang songs, created videos, made Kenyan meals, and bracelets that were sent over the Africa.
In 2015 Kenyan teachers from our Sister City arrived and spent two weeks in Newburyport. SSBI participated in the school visits and conducted the teacher training for those learning about technology use in education. The enthusiasm for connecting kids and teachers on a Google platform was high. That project is still a work in progress, but we have the support of the Public Schools Director of Technology to go ahead and connect the teachers as the first step.
In 2016 One Planet Education again conducted a 'Connected Event' with Small Solutions Bungoma team. They continued their work on the protection of African wildlife. Students from North Carolina, 2 schools in Brooklyn New York, one school in the Bronx, one school in Haiti and SSBI students in Bungoma. The students were very enthusiastic about the exchange, and have produced more art and stories, as well as learning to be advocates for wildlife.
INTERNSHIPS High School, Community College Internships in Social Media, Non-Profit Development and Video Production. Contact Us and We will Send a Job Description Specify Which Internship You Want to Apply For: and Your Contact Information
YOUTH MAKING ART TO CELEBRATE LOCAL WILDLIFE, HABITATS & THREATS OUR ENVIRONMENT & ITS SURVIVAL THESE BANNERS ARE INSTALLED ON THE NEWBURYPORT RAIL TRAIL TO FIND THEM FOLLOW THE FENCE ALONG THE SEWER PLANT The Wildlife Banners created from the Youth Mural Art Workshops will be displayed, and there will be activities, youth videos and poetry on the subject of Climate and Our Celebration of Wildlife & Our Environment. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Newburyport Cultural Council, which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.