At eduKenya’s schools, we seek to develop our students holistically as we provide numerous opportunities for them to discover and grow their talents. By providing our students with a well rounded education, we open up diverse avenues for success beyond graduation, giving them numerous tools to work with beyond typical academic skills. To break the cycle of poverty, we need to get creative. Not every student will excel academically at the highest level, and not every academic success, will be fruitful immediately. We are constantly looking for creative ideas to enable our students to supplement or provide for their needs once they graduate from our schools.
To this end, as a part of our curriculum, our students have the opportunity to learn bead work. On a basic level, through beadwork, our students develop their hand eye coordination, while exercising their problem-solving and teamwork skills. The attention to detail and creative expression that beadwork entails, also enables our students to express their ideas, learn about new materials, and explore their creativity while having fun.
Our students also have the opportunity to learn pencil art as part of their curriculum. During these classes, our students learn the skill of creating realistic images with just pencils. This requires a strong understanding of light, contrast, and the different techniques of shading and outlining. This practice develops patience, sharpens their artistic abilities and provides a rewarding sense of accomplishment when their work comes to life on paper.
Creative expression is a good in itself. We are created in God’s image, and as we create, we find joy in following in our Creator’s footsteps. In addition, there is a practical benefit to creative education. In a country like Kenya, that has a large tourism sector, and ready market for unique African art, beadwork and pencil art are skills that have immense potential. For those students who are hardworking, creative and innovative, Arts and Crafts skills are an additional tool in their toolbelt that might help them achieve financial independence and break the cycle of poverty for their families.