Tampere-Mwanza-cooperation has many important impacts in Tampere, as well. In Tampere one impact is its global education aspect which can be seen for example in schools and kindergartens through cultural activities. Pupils' see and experience the culture of Tanzania and Mwanza through photos, videos, stories and teacher exchange activities as well as exchanging art and crafts with children from Mwanza. At its best, global education increases understanding about the broad world and tolerance towards differenct cultures and people. The school linckages involve 5 Schools in Mwanza and 10 schools and 3 day care centers in Tampere. Here are some stories from schools that have taken part in the project during the years:
Kaukajärvi
and Rahola schools are new to the project, and have been assigned as partner schools
with Mirongo and Sahwa. In Kaukajärvi the project is just starting, but some
teachers have already visited Mwanza. The children as of yet, haven’t had
the change to participate to the project in the early stages, but there are plenty
of ideas for communication and cooperation with Mirongo. Mr Mikko Siippainen, the
guidance counselor in Kaukajärvi School, has visited Mwanza and what he would
like to bring to the Finnish culture from Tanzania is the positive attitude, relaxed atmosphere,
and colors, songs, and laughter.
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| The kick off event in Rahola School for Mwanza project. Pic: Laura Pokka |
In Rahola
Primary School one Tuesday morning the hall fills with children in organized
queues for a morning assembly. “Habari za asubuhi!” they answer to the
teacher’s greeting, which means "How are you this morning?" in Swahili. A group of children performs a drum recital
influenced by Tanzanian music, which gets loud applauds. Even though the
project has just started in the school, it is evident that everybody is eagerly
onboard. The purpose of the morning assembly is for the project contact person in the school,
teacher Ms Ira Sipponen, to introduce Tansania, Mwanza and their partner school Sahwa
to the pupils. There are already some ideas about what will be done in the
future, like Mwanza themed week, art, letters, and so on.
Tampere-Mwanza
cooperation's impacts can be seen in the kindergartens ways of playing and involvment of music. In Jussinkylä
play school the kids have familiarized themselves with some Tanzanian musical
instruments. In this play school Mwanza has been brought closer in a fun way by
videos and music from Mwanza, to show the differences and similarities in Tanzanian and Finnish
children’s lives.
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| Kids playing with Tanzanian instruments in Jussinkylä day care center. Pic. Hanna Hjelt |
Pispala School has been part of the Mwanza project for several years. In the past two years the
first graders did some Mwanza themed art as well as prepared songs for the Schools' Mwanza Concert in
Tampere. Also, a Tanzanian musician Menard Mponda came to visit the school and organised a drumming, singing and dancing work shop to the pupils. Teacher visitors from Mwanza have spent some few days in a year in the school. For example, in the spring of 2014 teacher Ms Edna Kidudo from Mirongo School taught
some songs and plays to the children. Second graders Jade and Aimo remember
the plays and they also remember a few words of Swahili language that teacher Kidudo taught them. They would happily welcome new teacher visitors from
Mwanza to their school so that they would learn much more!
Puistokoulu
School is a slightly smaller school of about 120 pupils. Also the learning
groups are smaller, with only 8 kids in one class, whereas in Mwanza one
class can have up to 120 pupils! The project contact
person in the school, Mr Maco Oey has been in Mwanza two times as part of the teacher exchange, training and teaching teachers. He will soon leave
for his third visit in order to play music and record songs and videos together with the pupils in Mwanza Schools. This material will be used in Tampere schools as part of the global education and Tampere-Mwanza Project activities. Mr Oey feels that the project has given the kids a chance to learn
about tolerance, assistance and about the multicultural and international world. He says that the Tanzanian music and rhythm is something Finnish people could learn
from and what they can give and teach us. In Puistokoulu school there has also been musical workshops with
Mr Menard Mponda and the school takes part to the
yearly Mwanza Week School Concert.
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| Africa inspired painting made by a pupil of Puistokoulu School. Pic. Laura Pokka |
The Mwanza Week School Concert has now been organised 3 times in November and is a joint effort of the schools that take part in the project. This year the concert will be organised on the 25th of November and there will be music, drumming and dance performances from 3 schools and 1 day care cente.
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| Mwanza Week School Concert in 2013. Pic. Ruusa Gawaza |
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