Multicultural, plurilingual storytelling - a real melting pot!

This week we have a blog from Fadwa and Manuela who partnered up to take multicultural storytelling to another level!

Al Basma Modern School was established in 2019 and is located in Palestine -Gaza, licensed by the Ministry of Education. Despite all the challenges we face here in the Gaza strip such as wars, the blockade and the scarcity of resources, our school is one of the most modern schools with up-to-date technology tools. We provide education with distinctive and interesting educational methods taught by a community of professionals who are committed to the advancement of the Palestinian society.

The school adopts a vision of continued profession development for teachers and encourages extracurricular activities which promote students’ understanding and expands their creative thinking.

Al Basma Modern School

One of these extracurricular activities was collaborating with Hands Up Project storyteller, Manuela Kelly Calzini, to tell our sixth grade students stories from different cultures - a totally new experience for them.

Fadwa uses techniques guaranteed to ignite students’ imaginations

Manuela's stories were so meaningful and her unique way of telling them got the students so engaged, amazed and focused. Not only that but also they are now really excited to turn one of the stories into a play that they are going to act together

Spellbound!

Over to you, Manuela!

Do I look good in this?

This month I had the pleasure of working with friend, colleague and storyteller Fadwa Hassouna. Fadwa Invited me to tell a story to two of her classes ... what an experience!!! The students, all aged 11, were fully engaged with the stories, interacted with me and asked lots of questions, and ... even taught me some Arabic! And then … surprise , surprise! They took me on a virtual tour of the school, and then we went outside in the school yard where a traditional festival was being held... I watched children parading in traditional costumes, boys dancing on horses, girls singing in festive dresses and so much more.

Welcome to our story!

For a lover of multicultural and plurilingual projects this has been one rare occasion where I actually walked through the doors of a school, thousands of miles away. Yes, I was Zoomed to Gaza from Florence within minutes!

This is just the beginning of what both Fadwa and Manuela hope will become a real and true Melting Pot.

Fadwa & ManuelaTeachers, Storytellers, Friends

Join in everyone!