The Beauty and Power of Artistic Expression

For starters, they’re separated by 6,000 miles, a distance which includes a vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean.  To those who call Jam’s Academy home, Collegiate’s facilities and resources must seem opulent, for they spend each day in rudimentary cinderblock buildings without basic amenities such as electricity and running water.

The elementary school, in its fourth year of existence, is the creation of Moses Jam, a gregarious, college-trained educator and visionary who brings energy and passion to his calling of establishing multi-lingual literacy, and while his charges may go without the conveniences that we take for granted, they’ve found an advocate and, in a way, a soul mate half a world away.

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Three years ago, Richmonder Kalene Resler traveled to Cameroon as a Peace Corps volunteer to teach high school English in the northern part of the country.  As she was settling into her 27-month assignment, Boco Haram became a presence nearby, and she was transferred to the east and connected with Jam’s Academy.

Many of the young students, most of whom are Muslim, are the first in their family even to attend school.  They speak their native language of Fulfulde, and their goal is to learn English, French, and Arabic as well.

Her task was challenging, to be sure, especially since the students had no textbooks or workbooks and did their lessons on individual slates.

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At about the time Kalene joined the Jam’s Academy family, Holly Smith, who teaches art in Collegiate’s Lower School, began a project with second graders called Studio Two, whose official name is Global Education through Art and Social Entrepreneurship.

Brainstorming began.  One thought led to another.  Ideas abounded.

Studio Two would create an African Market.

Students would make a wide variety of items using bright, bold West African textiles called pagne (pronounced pon-ye), sell them, and use the proceeds to fund textbooks and workbooks for the Jam’s Academy students.

Despite the distance, the cultural differences, and the language barrier, the connection made perfect sense.

Holly, you see, is Kalene’s mother.

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“We use art as a communications vehicle,” Holly said on the December day that the African Market opened in her classroom

“We came up with some designs. We made paper-plate looms and strung yarn on them and used strips of the fabric from Cameroon. And we made weavings that we turned into pins and hair-ties and picture frames.

“We opened the African Market first to second graders, then to the whole school.  Second graders were our main producers and main customers.  At this point, they sense a real commitment and connection with those children (at Jam’s Academy).  They’re committed to the product and the cause.”

The first year, the Market raised $2,000.  In the next two, it has raised another $2,500. Initially, Kalene and Moses Jam worked together to order Cameroonian-published supplies for English, French, and reading classes.  After Kalene’s Peace Corps stint ended, her successors assumed the responsibility of coordinating the Collegiate - Jam’s Academy effort.  

“This year,” Holly continued, “we’re raising money for story books.  Now that there’s improved literacy, Moses Jam feels like there’s a need for actual library type story/picture books that the children can check out and use.”

While communication is difficult, it’s certainly not non-existent.

The American and Cameroonian students have learned about each other’s nation, culture, school, families, holidays, and religions.

They have posed many questions, which have been relayed via email to the Peace Corps volunteers, and received answers.

They have sent photographs and drawings back and forth.    

Holly even received an email recently from Moses Jam expressing gratitude for her students’ efforts.

“Hi, Mrs. Smith,” he began, “you do not know the joy you have put in my heart. You know we have one enemy we are fighting. This is Mr. Ignorance and Mrs. Illiterate. The best weapon to fight them is not a gun but books. Workbooks are useful but perishable and textbooks are useful and last long.  It is a matter of existing funds that determine what one should go in for.

“When I am done with the classes at the new site, I will start the building of two rooms that will serve as a library. Then there will be a great need for more story books, for my kids would have mastered all reading skills. Tell your kids we are looking forward to seeing them one day in our school. Greet the entire Collegiate family and many thanks for always thinking of Jam’s Academy.”

In addition to providing a vehicle for humanitarian service and entrepreneurship, the ongoing project enhances global awareness and an appreciation of diversity.

“They (Collegiate second graders) learn that there are people their age across the world that have very, very different lives,” Holly explained.  “It’s not a ‘feeling sorry’ kind of education.  It’s ‘Wow! That’s really different!  And some of it is pretty cool! For instance, some of these children, if they ever have motorized transportation, it’s the back of a motorcycle.

“More than that, they have a feeling that they have friends in Cameroon who care about them and who they care about.   They realize they’re all 7-, 8-, and 9-year-olds. It’s really important for the Cameroonian students, because when they get older and are able to make decisions about their lives, they might recall, ‘Oh, I had a friend in the United States.  They were different, but they were like us.’
    
“It’s so important to lay groundwork that focuses more on commonality and friendships than on differences.”
            --Weldon Bradshaw