Sunday 3 March 2013

What can be achieved by a good teacher



I was looking for material on the general election in Kenya and I came across the above clip.  

In  many ways the kids in this class have had the worst possible start in life but in one very important respect they could not have had a better one.   Look at the teacher, Mike Wamaya.  He is good.  I googled for some more information on Mike and I found an even better clip from CNN and this article in The Daily Nation.  These films show what can be achieved from the discipline not only in the studio but also in the class room and in life generally.   Something that I and most readers of this blog in many walks of life are likely to have found out for ourselves.

The charity that employs Mike Wamaya is Anno's Africa "a UK based charity that offers an alternative, arts education to orphans and vulnerable children in some of Africa’s most desperately deprived city slums."   It was set up in memory of Anno Birkin a writer and musician who died just before his 21st birthday.   It is supported by some of the biggest names in the arts.

Who knows whether any of the children in the clips will find their way on to the stage or even to the audience of the Royal Opera House or the Met but they will certainly live fuller lives as a result of their exposure to their art.   

Incidentally, ballet is just one of the many activities of this charity as you can see from the promo.    If ever there was a cause worth supporting it is this one.   There are many ways you can contribute to its work.   Whichever way you choose I hope you will do so generously.

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