On Monday we made a start with teachers at Realschule Ostheim in Stuttgart. We learned about the five “I's”. Can you remember them? After the teacher’s workshop 25 INDIE students and school council representatives from every class enjoyed working with Levi. Most important questions: How do you write a romantic poem? Some took notes very eagerly.
We finished with a performance in front of about 300 students, teachers, INDIE trainer Georges and partners Annely Zeeb from the Ministry and Dieter Salzgeber from the teacher training seminar in a packed gym.
“Are you cool?” …
We were welcomed by INDIE students with amazing dancing and singing performances. About 25 students were inspired by Levi’s poems and ideas to produce poems of their own on discrimination, celebrating diversity, historical human rights movement and Martin Luther King. The second group of younger students performed some own rap and had lots of questions from “Are you famous?” to “Why do you like Ethiopia?” They went on to produce little poems even in English on being as quick as mice and living in the coolest part of Stuttgart. Finally we had two stunning performances – one by students and one by Levi.
At 8 in the morning we set out to the countryside. During the cause of the day a deputy head discovered that he’s got a really great beatboxer amongst his students performing in front of half the school together with Levi at the school amphitheatre. The teacher’s workshop in the afternoon attracted also teachers from a neighbouring school. One maths teacher even discovered his joy in little 4-lined rhyming poems. A truly interdisciplinary experience.
Two packed workshops with students on a bright and sunny day. We learned about having a piece of Africa in our pocket and despite having some difficulties with English in particular and writing poems in general students produced terrific poems even without having a rap beat at hand. They performed their poems on very personal issues and experiences in front of a 100 students and teachers, which really is a brave thing to do.
We left there leaving behind astonished teachers: How do you get students to write poetry , in a foreign language, on personal issues like everyday discrimination in about 60 minutes?
At the end of this awe-inspiring week even I start to rhyme. It seems to be contagious. But I couldn't dream of a nicer thing to be infected with. To me it is very heart warming to see young people to be able to relate to somebody because of similar experience and actually let creativity spark and produce poetry. Even teachers found a link established by a Rolo. Sometimes it takes as little as that. We finished off that particular day with a delicious Thai meal combinded with homoeopathic consultation by the restaurant's chef.
Levi, you've done a great job and made a lasting impression on entire school communities. Thank you so much for being you and sharing that with us!
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