This workshop is an expected output of the series of exposures thru various workshops conducted by ICAN as their peace initiative projects in the locality of General Santos City using art making as medium of expression.
The ICAN (International Children’s Action Network) FOUNDATION is a Non Government Organization working “with” the community people for community development.
In line with their community works, their scholars have been conducting activities and events to build mutual understanding between the Christian majority and minority people, such as IP groups and Muslim groups, here in General Santos city. For example in 2009, ten Christian scholars and five B’laan children participated “Theater Play Workshop” together and they made a theater play which shared the importance of living together in Gensan.
This year, the said scholars have planned and conceptualized to introduce the different groups of people whom they have encountered and exposed with from selected locales in the city of General Santos through the use of a popular media for the young, the Manga-Comics or a booklet with similar type.
This idea is motivated by the desire to present understanding, unity, cooperation and appreciation of other cultural identities as an outcome of their various experiences which brought up the issues of misunderstanding, discrimination, biases and prejudices among the different groups or communities.
So in order for them to bridge mutual understanding between the different groups, a project must be established to present these observations and experiences and it can be used to disseminate and promote harmony of existence and respect of each other’s differences thru a simple medium that can be easily understood and realized.
As the first step was undertaken, 15 scholars have conducted “Exposure Visit” to 5 different communities: Magindanaon, Bajao, T’boli, B’laan, and Maranao; where they were tasked to observed, understand and know the cultural backgrounds of these groups and appreciate its unique traditions. By using the simple basic tool of understanding without the use of comparison or accepted norms or standards, the experiences became an outstanding success.
Now, as for their second step, the scholars must be oriented in art making or creative productions like mangga or comics making so as to be able to realize and fulfill their main goal and objective of making their experiences be known to others ,thus it will ensure that other young people like them can also be influenced by their learned experiences and the positive outcome it would bring them.
PROJECT RATIONALE:
The workshop will accommodate both the creative (artistic) and cross-cultural components. They are designed for children or teens from different parts of the locale living in the tri-state area. We believe children and the youth will benefit greatly by improving their own knowledge of themselves, cultural competence and perceptions of cross-cultural issues that would lead to peace making and peace advocacy through creative art workshops. Learning will become part of the fun!
Cross-Cultural Workshops for Peace thru comics making will be filled with engaging materials and necessary tools for children and the youth to experiment with new ideas and apply skills they have already mastered and exposed with. Children and the youth will explore through planned activities that incorporate art, drawing, cultural awareness, and peace studies. Children/youth will be able to experiment with materials that are commonly available. The Workshops will give emphasis on cross-cultural issues, sensitivity and context for peace making.
The workshop uses the medium of arts to extend children’s/youth’s outlook and awareness of the concepts of environment and heritage protection, human rights, equality, tolerance and peace. The workshop is committed to promoting art among children and the youth and generating healthy and creative activities for children from a broad spectrum of society.
The workshop aims at spreading the message of peace. It is also to promote respect for different religions, races and culture among children and youth of the city of General Santos.
The workshop will use comics making as strategy. Comics is defined as a juxtaposed pictorial and other images in deliberate sequence, intended to convey information and, or produce an aesthetic response in the viewer.
Comics clearly has five identified strengths: motivating, visual, permanent, intermediary, and popular - can be harnessed in practically any subject and at practically any grade level. Many innovative teachers have already done so with much success.
