The Bocas Lit Fest’s Children’s Programme continues to build on its mission to form a new generation of readers and writers.
On Wednesday 22 May, the NGO presented a pilot Children’s Caravan for primary schools at the recently opened La Horquetta Public Library.
The Caravan was a combination of the historically popular Bocas Lit Fest Children’s Storytelling Caravan, and creative workshops for primary school children and teachers, to take the festival experience to more locations nationwide.
Over 100 students and teachers of the St George East School District were treated to a full morning of storytelling, creative workshops and videos.
Acclaimed actress and director Cecilia Salazar led a packed auditorium in a thrilling interactive storytelling session.
This was followed by story creation workshops led by Salazar and Melvina Hazard, Bocas Lit Fest’s Children’s Programme Manager. A group of children collaborated on creating a fascinating story titled “A Hunting Adventure”.
Kevan Calliste, three time Junior Extempo Monarch, conducted a workshop on the elements of the genre and had the children creating and singing spontaneous, original verses.
Teachers also benefitted from the event with a workshop on Teaching Creative Writing for Teachers, led by Reia Ali of The Creative Writing Institute. This workshop also gave the teachers guidelines and formulas for effectively and accurately evaluating and grading students’ creative writing exercises. Additionally, students were treated to a Bocas Storytime Matinee — animated videos of stories from past Storytelling Caravans written by children.
“Exposing children to dynamic storytelling and giving them the opportunity to tell their own stories is a powerful way to empower them. These activities contribute to their holistic development, providing children with effective, creative and interactive avenues for improved social cognition and problem-solving. They also encourage empathy and understanding of diversity and individual differences,”  Melvina Hazard, Children’s Programme Manager at Bocas Lit Fest explained. Â
Students of The Ken Gordon School of Communication, Creative and Digital Media, COSTAATT provided event support and photography as part of an assignment, in keeping with a standing MOU between COSTAATT and Bocas Lit Fest.
Refreshments were provided by Nestlé and Sunshine Snacks.
Photographs by Zachery Lucas, student at The Ken Gordon School of Communication, Creative and Digital Media, COSTAATT.
