The Dreaming Butterflies Arts Summer Camp

By Gibron Rahim
ENGAGEMENT with the creative arts is important for children. In addition to utilising and strengthening their creativity and imagination, involvement with the creative arts teaches them additional skills that they can use in their adult life. It is for this reason that programmes that allow children to express themselves through the creative arts are so vital. The recently concluded Dreaming Butterflies Arts Summer Camp is an example of such a programme.

The Dreaming Butterflies Arts Summer Camp was held from August 19 to August 23 by Empowering to Lead with Confidence (ELC). ELC, which is composed of a group of persons who volunteer their time and passion for the arts, is also the non-profit organisation behind the Spring Fashion and Empowerment Tea Party that was held this past April.

ELC Founder Nadia Thomas Winter told the Pepperpot Magazine that one of the organisation’s aims is to give back to children, especially in the area of the arts. As a trained visual arts educator and fashion designer, it was important to Thomas Winter that such an activity be undertaken by ELC. It was decided that, since children would be at home for the August holidays and their parents would be seeking activities to keep them occupied, August was the perfect time to hold the free one week camp that would incorporate visual arts, dance, storytelling, drama and other art forms.

There was, unfortunately, a delay in the start of the camp due to issues with locating a suitable venue. Nevertheless, despite the delay, the camp was eventually able to proceed. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA Guyana) was one of the camp’s major sponsors. The camp ran daily from 9:30hrs to 15:00hrs with different activities being scheduled on different days. The camp would not have been possible without volunteers Janelle Thomas, Stacy Winter and Natasha Alert and volunteer dance teacher Mikhail McLennan.

The children participated in many activities involving creating recycled art pieces, such as piggy banks, from plastic bottles. They were also involved in painting two different murals and participated in freestyle dance and also witnessed classical dance, in addition to storytelling and role-playing. Thomas Winter noted that more activities had been planned for the camp but, unfortunately, time ran out.

Participation in the Dreaming Butterflies Arts Summer Camp taught the children numerous skills. For example, the children were divided into groups for the mural painting. Thomas Winter observed that participation in groups led to team building. She related that the children learnt to appreciate each other’s work and to listen to achieve one goal. “They were able to figure out how to get something done together as a group,” she said. Thomas Winter also noted that the children were grouped so that the older children would be able to guide and help the younger children. “There was no fussing or anything of the sort, everybody was able to work together as one.”

The 25 children who participated in the camp were also very friendly and protective of each other. Thomas Winter also observed that they were very appreciative of and excited for the camp. Based on the children’s reactions, she said of the camp, “That was something I was really happy to be a part of to help them with that.” The children’s responses to the camp ending contrasted with their reactions at the beginning. Thomas Winter related that they were initially unsure of what to expect. However, as the days progressed they became increasingly enthusiastic. “They all love to do art, I realised.”

Unfortunately, space limited the number of children that could be accommodated at the camp. Thomas Winter explained, “I wanted to do it in an open-air environment but it rained so much so we definitely had to get somewhere enclosed.” That limited the number of children who were able to attend the camp.

The parents of the children who participated in the camp were amazed at the enthusiasm of their offspring, according to Thomas Winter. She related that one mother sent her a message to express appreciation, explaining that her son danced, an activity that he does not usually enjoy participating in. “She was so excited about that,” Thomas Winter said. “From the kids’ experience when they go to meet their parents, their parents were excited for them.” She added, “It was something that we really appreciated – the fact that they could have gone home and told their parents, ‘We were really engaged’.”

The importance of education in the arts cannot be underscored enough. Speaking as an educator and fashion designer, Thomas Winter said, “What I find, dealing with kids, is that the arts help development and I can’t help stressing that.” She went on to add, “Creativity is one of the things that we need to stress on in these times, the 21st century because we’re competing with machines.” She emphasised that every child has the right to be a part of a programme, such as the Dreaming Butterflies Camp. Moreover, she said that programmes in the arts can help people of all ages to stay in their communities.

Thomas Winter pointed out that programmes in the arts can be developed locally. “You can build your own stuff right in your own community, right in your country and appreciate your local talent,” she said. She also noted that the arts can allow individuals to become self-sufficient by allowing them the opportunity to be self-employed. She indicated the need for greater government-based involvement in developing the arts.

There are plans in the future to expand the camp both in the Georgetown area and into other communities. “Next year we’re going to definitely plan it bigger for Georgetown,” Thomas Winter said. She related that they are also looking into the possibility of taking the camp to Lethem. “We expect to branch off but we can only run it for one week at a time at different locations,” she stated. Additionally, “It’s a non-profit so sponsorship is very key.”