Kids create H’art, Peace & LOVE!

Kids creating Peace and LOVE in two countries.

This is a story of inspiration, love and what has become a mission of peace. I believe that anytime children learn about others in another country, then create a bond with them peace emanates.

Barb Sihota, an educational assistant who works primarily with kids with special needs in Richmond, BC, Canada started hatching this model of peace not fully realizing the impact on so many.

I asked Barb what inspired her to create this project. ”Invited to share in Chris and Cindy’s twentieth wedding anniversary in Mexico I wondered what do we get as a gift? I work in a grade three class with a teacher that is very flexible with project work and since Cindy is a fan of hearts I wanted to give her hearts. I saw a wall of hearts in a magazine and the light went on in my head that was what I was going to do; have the children make a heart. The heart done by the student who did the Mexican flag is everyone’s favourite!  That student painted to the tune of his own drum and did not follow instructions!  Who can curb an artist to change his ways!  Lol. The children loved the idea and their mission was to have Cindy cry tears of joy and amazement! (It worked!) We had discussions around giving someone memories, what love means to them, and doing something for someone even if you don’t personally know them. They were very particular, careful, patient and focused while painting; on a mission to make it their best artwork ever. The kids love that they are truly international artists now!  They are excited about the artwork hanging in the lobby of a hotel, but I think unaware of the honour that this is.”

“After completion, I took pictures of the canvases all together and individually. I gave each of the children a card with both their own picture of their h’art and the group h’artwork. They loved that. I also gave the classroom teacher pictures of all the canvases. She still has that posted on her wall in her classroom. The kids loved the epic story of how the paintings took a week to arrive in Mexico and how when they finally arrived the customs officers interrogated me thinking they were works of art ready to be sold in Mexico!”

There are a couple of other sources of inspiration:

• The enjoyment and pride that the kids felt from doing it the first time.
• After speaking to the mother of one of the students that did the original Project, I learned that he has kept the keepsake cards of his artwork that I had given him. He keeps it on his shelf of awesome things.  He is the student leader for this new project as he is in grade five and the other students are grades two and three.  He will thrive in this role.

Fast forward to this year and Barb and her teacher friend Fiona, who now resides a major portion of the year in La Cruz and teaches English at the school created what I call a mission of Love and Peace between the school in Richmond and the one in La Cruz. Barb worked with her students ‘back home’ and brought their artwork and hung it on the school wall in La Cruz. Then she brought all the materials for the children here to do the same, taking those artworks back to Richmond. Barb’s hope is to display the artwork on a wall at her school, Brighouse elementary in Richmond, BC, at the entry or near the office but there are no definite plans as of yet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She enrolled many of us to help, which was such a pleasure. The rockstar of the day… other than the children and of course Barb was ten-year-old Diego who I asked to assist translate what Barb was teaching. We couldn’t have done it without him.

 

 

 

Barb’s overriding goal was peace, “Working to bridge a cultural gap and build an awareness of other countries other than Canada and their own little community of Richmond. To teach our Canadian children, both born and recent immigrants, that there are other children that are not as fortunate as they are and to be aware of the global community and not just their immediate surroundings. Building peace through h’art pals (kinda like a penpal).”

 

Happy Children, warms my heart!

 

The ultimate compliment, which is so humbling “To think it all started out of a place of love in the heart of Cindy. Your inspiration and ability to bring people together makes this a perfect bridge between two little schools. You never know, perhaps the idea will spread further and more kids will be brought together by h’art!!!”

I asked Barb some question of why she came and returns to La Cruz and why she’s excited about this project.

“The first time we came to La Cruz was due to Cindy and Chris’s kind invitation to help celebrate their wedding anniversary. We keep returning because of the quaint and safe community and the wonderful people we have met here. I’m hoping to improve my Spanish with each trip!”

I’m especially excited about this project for a few reasons:

• Connecting with another school and hopefully having both groups of children buy into ‘connecting with other children their age’. Sharing pictures and stories of the kids beforehand will make the project more meaningful and have more of a purpose.
• The older student who helped with this project is developing his ‘presentation’ skills. He is a very bright and articulate young man.
• Cindy and I are hoping that Diego, the older, ten-year old, child, who helped in La Cruz might want to be pen pals with the older child in Richmond. When Cindy asked Diego to be an ambassador and hel with translation he announced “Cindy, I don’t know that word”, when she explained, he liked that honour.
• Meeting the children in La Cruz was eye opening and a blessing. To see the school and to see how expats are helping out their adopted community and the bright smiles of the children; it’s a win-win situation.
  

  Pure JOY!

Thanks to Barb, her immense energy that she brought to this project and the team she brought together!