MKK delegates on the last day of the conferenceToday was the last day of MKK (big ‘awww’) and it finished off great. After some final prep each production group presented their final pieces of work. The photography group I was part of showed off its photos with a slideshow and we also produced a big collage of our photos highlighting the impact we have on our environment; the TV group showed a film they’d made together on gender-based violence – really entertaining stuff (link?); the graffitti group (Shiv was a member of this group) talked through how they’d come up with the ideas for their artwork at Bush Radio’s offices to convey the contribution of language and culture to a healthy society; the radio group’s radio production addresing the issues of drugs and alcohol was excellent and featured our very own Caoimhe Connor and her dulcet tones (don’t worry Paul, we’ve got a copy to share with everyone back home); finally the issue of child labour was highlighted very effectively with a blog and Twitter page by the online group and Una features in a video they made for their blog (she probably doesn’t want me to tell you that but tough cookie!)
As well as seeing the final products of MKK some of the young people also gave presentations on work they’d been doing as part of their Away from Violence work. It seems that AFV has been running on a slightly more individual basis than what Public Achievement has been doing in NI. But it’s great to see how the young people have been interpreting AFV – amongst others, Shantelle chose the issue of animal cruelty, Luke dealt with drugs and violence, and Nonkosi highlighted the shocking problem of infant rape (apparently there are 60 cases a day in S Africa). However another Bush Radio CREW member, Julia, seems to be running AFV using groupwork and she showed a powerpoint presentation of the work she’s been doing in a school with a group of young people there – we’ve got a copy of her videos to bring home with us ☺ She also brought a few young people from the school with her whoe spoke about the project and performed a dance.
Caoimhe & I also got the opporunity to explain a little more about the work we’ve been involved with in NI with AFV – thanks are due to PA staff, namely Sean, Paul & Kamal, for getting pictures and videos to us – much appreciated guys. I think we nearly drove hotel staff round the bend trying to get enough internet vouchers so that we could download the videos but it all worked out in the end. I don’t think the S Africans understood the Belfast accents on some of the videos but ‘St Gerard’s News’ went down a storm!
Oh and there was also some live musical entertainment from Apple & Cinnamon, Grand Alliance & Shaz and B – nice work, they got everyone in a good mood.
The not so good bit about today was having to say goodbye to all the young people we’ve met over the last week. It would be so amazing if they could get the chance to come to NI some day and share their expertise and experiences with young people at home.
Debs
Giz Louise, what a day! It started with me on live air radio, with the radio group and our facilitator (and radio presenter) Victor Jay… we talked about our experiences over MKK. And what an experience it has been, this has really made me want to do something like MKK in Belfast and bring young people from all cultures together. I think the young people throughout the North would learn so much from getting involved in a weeklong project. I have so many ideas, that I really want to prove with Paul. Hopefully with the help of our extremely talented Una and Shiv, Public Achievement could make this possible.
As far as the presentations went, I believe Debs has given you a good angle on them. All the young people presented their issues and topics with so much confidence it was mind-blowing. It was also interesting to see the outcome of the South African Away from Violence project. The young people seem to work on an individual or extremely small group basis at Bush Radio however, the young people have produced some amazing outcomes, some of which are quite hard hitting e.g. infant rape. It still shocks me to see young people present themselves so confidently and naturally on stage. It’s crazy because any time I get up to present I nearly die off, which leads on to Debs and me’s presentation. I really felt it went well, especially with the videos because it actually gave the young people the issue up front and also faces. It also gave them a break from Debs and I talking ☺ Again a special thanks to Kamal (the fabulous cave man) for taking the time our to upload the videos onto the internet! WE LOVE YOU KAMALSKY! X
Oh yes, for the videos I also had to sweet talk my new best mate up at reception into giving me a few extra internet cards (4 being exact – after getting 2). Awk, what a good guy eh? Oh, perhaps its not best to share this with Best Western management, as the say – Just’n’Casey!
So the day finished with music and food. Then it moved into the sadness, saying goodbye ☹ I DON’T WANNA GO HOME ☹ It’s sunny here and being a youth worker is well eassssyyyy… because the youngsters just do everything themselves and they also have all the answers, eh I’m telling you.
So I asked the guys what was the main of MKK and this is what they told me –
• Shiv – Getting to do graffiti, and physically getting to develop the piece! (Its even inspired him to get a drawing book and oil pastels)
• Una – Today getting to see how everyone’s projects came together and seeing the final product.
• Debs – Seeing the children's smiles! (Awww… even Debs likes a bit of Cheeeeese)
And as for me, it was when we got to prepare a script for a Radio drama and then act it out, with all the nifty sound effects ☺ Good times!
Last full day in Cape Town tomorrow, Night
Caoimhe x
Ok so I’m am literally falling asleep as I’m writing this so I’m going to be very brief – I also cannot be bothered reading what Debs and Caoimhe have written so I’ll probably end up repeating what they have said…but sure!! Today has been a long day… up at 7 and at bush radio for 8.30 – I need sleep!! Firstly my group started by finishing our presentation and deciding who was saying what. Then we headed round to St. Agnes’ where the closing ceremony for MKK09 started. It was really great to see how everyone had used their mediums to address their issue –I think my favourite one was the television group who made a great video about gender equality with regards to violence. The editing they done was really good and clever :D The performances were also really good however I could not understand a word that the ‘Grand Alliance’ group were singing and one of their songs sounded like they had taken Eminem’s ‘I am’ song and changed a few words. But all in all it was really good :D
I have had a great time in Cape Town and at the MKK but I’m looking forward to going home and seeing everyone again. Hope the snow is still there so I can make a snowman…and maybe a snowball fight :P
See you soon (3 days to be exact)
Una x
Well one more day to go folks and I don’t know how I’m feeling about it. Kinda sad and glad. I’ve learnt a lot but still I feel I can learn a lot more. I’ve so many questions which most people will learn if they know me for a short time. Even before starting this I thought of some interesting questions, well I find them interesting, I don’t know if they are or not, some people say I ask too many questions. But my grandda always told me to ask questions and I try to as much as i can. I still believe it’s the beast way to learn. I mean actually learn and if you think about it on a wide holistic (my new word) sense that there’s so many questions we all have but then ask yourself even if they have no answers what other questions do we have that we haven’t asked or even thought of yet? Maybe that’s just me. I really think I would hate to get to a point where I don’t have any more questions. I might not have any at that point in time but I can always think of some thing more. I would hate to get to a point where I wouldn’t want to know any more, I find that kind of sad but that’s definitely just me that I just want to know more and more. Well that’s enough of that for now.
Looking back at the past two weeks it seems way too short but as I said I’m feeling sad as well as glad and I’m glad its coming to an end because now I can go home and see family and friends who I’ve missed. But also I can now look back on all what we have done. Just this past week with MKK was outstanding, just the very fact that the young people, most younger than us at wimps, are so self motivated and so bright minded, it’s inspiring if that’s one thing I could take back and start with wimps that would be anth in my opinion but of course there more than that. The presentations today not one of them dull or boring they were all interesting to me and they were all very good and very different. i liked doing the presentations that I took part in as it give me a chance to communicate with a large group all at the same time, well not really communicate as such, more of express my thoughts and ideas on our work and the topic we were doing. I think there’s too much to pick a favourite or best part of the whole Experience, maybe Table Mountain but I really don’t know what I enjoyed the most. Well there’s tomorrows blog entry and that’s it folks.
Nathan AKA shiv
PS Apologies for the lack of photos but it's late and I need my wee bed! D
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