Events
Spreading Seeds of Peace through Children's Drama Festival
The Green Belt Movement supported its 2nd Children Festival 2014 through a partnership with the Ministry of Education Schools Drama Festivals and Green Cross-Sweden. In Kenya this is an annual co-curricular activity that is hosted by the Ministry of Education. The Festival was held on 28th Feb and 1st March 2014 for the primary schools festival and 6-8th March 2014 for the secondary schools festival.
The goal of the festival is to tap and nurture creative talents among the Kenyan youths and children. GBM engaged with the Ministry of Education- Nakuru County and sponsored a theme" Healing the Earth for Peace and Sustainable Development" which the students creatively performed for different categories.
The competitions saw participants drawn from the primary,secondary school to university level. The primary schools festival took place in Naivasha, High peak academy while Afraha High School in Nakuru hosted the secondary schools. The festivals brought together 68 primary schools and 55 secondary schools from Nakuru County, a total of 2750 students participated in the colorfulfestivals.
The schools taking part in the festival showcased various different categories of performances ranging from dancing, poetry, singing games and own compositions that were judged by selected adjudicators who have served as art, music and drama teachers.
During the festivals, primary schools performed 80 presentations, High school performed 135 presentations and 2 by the University. Performances ranged in different themes including peaceful coexistence and cohesion, devolution, Kenya@50, corruption, governance, respect for animals and cultural diversity. The air was charged with colourful presentations that contained powerful messages and captured the attention of the audience. Organizers said that the event does not only serve as competitions but plays a great role in growing talents as well as promoting national unity.
A recital solo verse by Wambui from Central Primary School "Evils of Tribalism" moved the audience to a loud cheer of acknowledgement of talent and content.
The Festival theme “healing the Earth for Peace and Sustainable Development” was related to the Wangari Maathai Day “Youth Healing the Earth” Celebrated on 3rd March 2014. The International Women’s day theme “Inspiring Change” inspired the festival's rallying call message by Prof. Maathai “I am a humming Bird”.
