Specialist Schools Conference Presentation June 2007

Exploring the Global Dimension to promote Social Justice at Deptford Green School Ruth Fairclough Lee Faith Ben Hammond

Cross-curricular strands Rationale & Context

• Development of a whole school and community based initiative • Explore and advocate the global dimension within the curriculum, • Engaging our local-global communities and undertaking meaningful cross-curricular work • Explored how the mediums of literacy, oracy and active citizenship can be used to promote social justice in the world today • Whole school assemblies – R.E. department

Conceptual Overview Curriculum time was used in English, Drama, Citizenship and Geography to examine themes such as: • Global Citizenship • Media Representation • Development of critical and cultural literacy.

The ‘Week of Voices’ ‘One World, Many Voices’ How can we use our voices to promote social justice in our world? How can the mediums of literacy, oracy and active citizenship help to explore and critically reflect on the Rwandan genocide? (What happened? Why did this happen? How can we prevent this happening again?) English • Year 7 – African Storytelling • Year 8 – Poetry of empathy • Year 9 – Speech writing, Genocide survivors speaking in lessons • Year 10 – Film reviews • Year 11 – Decoding propaganda: bias and persuasive mediums Drama • Years 7-9 – Cultural celebration: Rwanda • 30 KS3 Drama Pupils working with Mashirika Theatre Group Citizenship • Year 10 – Refugees in the Media SOW • Year 9 – Film making, promoting social justice in the local community through the medium of film

Mashirika: ‘Rwanda, My Hope’ ‘Rwanda My Hope’ is a moving and powerful dramatisation of events leading up to and during the 1994 genocide, young people tell the story of their country through theatre and music. The core message is of respect, tolerance and hope. It also highlights the universal lessons of individual responsibility. • Feeder primary Matinee Performance • Evening Performance Both performances took place at The Albany, Deptford’s local community theatre

Evaluation “I loved it. Energy, empathy, compassion shared in an evening, which I will not forget. Amazing dancing . Strong reminder of the power of the human spirit to survive, stunning!” “The performance was wonderful and my children are now wanting to find out more about getting involved with social activities in their community”. “I liked the performance very much, it helped me learn more about the genocide in Rwanda” - Year 6 pupil Rwanda My Hope matinee performance for feeder primaries Did you find the performance helped you understand more about Genocide?

Rwanda My Hope evening performance Do you feel the performance is a good way of raising peoples general awareness of Genocide? 0%

2%

0%

9%

2%

19%

39%

20%

1 - Not at all 2 3 4 5 - Very Much

1 - Not at all 2 3 4 5 - Very Much

79%

30%

Examples of Pupil Outcomes Yigi was a very small man who lived in a small hut. He had small sheep and small cows. Yigi woke up in his small bed very eager to check on his large calabash in the deep, green and dark forest. He came to the opening in which he had hidden the gleaming and colourful calabash. There it was sitting on the very same dusty rock that had been there ever since he could remember. But there was one thing wrong. The calabash was empty. All his prize possessions had disappeared. Yigi thought he knew what had happened. He had grown up with a friend, Zgrez. Both their parents had died in the genocide of 1951. Zgrez had grown up selling stuff he had stolen from people. Yigi tried it but got caught and so never did it again. Because of that, there was always conflict between them. Zgrez had heard that Yigi kept something precious in his calabash but he could never get his hands on it as Chummy the Chipmonk and his gang would ambush him whenever he got near Yigi looked over and saw Chummy fast asleep and realised Zgrez must have crept past. He decided he had to get his possessions back and ran off to make a plan. Shannon Jhany 7EL

Examples of Pupil Outcomes About me Hiding. Away from everything. Curling. Away from everyone. Strolling alone, I fear for my close ones, I jump. Alert and ready. Prepare to attack. Like the needles on a hedgehog’s back. I have many meanings, Some words may offend others, While some can be taken at peace, My feelings are expressed in the lyrics, So that others, Can feel what I feel, Hear what I hear. See what I see. And know, What it’s like, to be Me.

Neatly wrapped, And all closed up, The time came, Slowly untied and ready, Spoilt for choice Containing so many different options, Sour. Sweet. Bubbly. Exotic. Some, others may not accept, While other sfall in love with, Not everyone will b ehappy. One is left Untouched. Susan Duong 11WS

Impact How can we engage students? What were the outcomes? How can we take this work forward?

“This is a moving experience of a shocking narrative that most of us observed, and still observe in Darfur on a screen. This performance makes the horror and reality tangible, but takes us towards unity and hope. It demands that we are not bystanders, but people who will stand up and do something and make a difference”. Year 9 Parent