A slighltly longer highlights video is also available.

A Class ACT!

When 67 young people from across North West England rallied together to showcase their talents in Oxfam ACTivism, a drama competition to raise awareness of the 67 million children without access to education, it made for a memorable night!

Judged by Chris Worral - Head of Oxfam’s Health and Education Campaign, Lauren Hickin - a 17 year old up and coming actress from Warrington and Gordon Astely – former Tiswas presenter and radio broadcaster, the 5 groups sang, danced and acted their hearts out, wowing the packed out audience and local MP David Mowat with their inspirational performances and changing hearts and minds on the subject of Education for All!

With a chance to sing, dance and act - in plays penned themselves – the youngsters aged from 7 to 15 embraced the opportunity to make a difference by performing their short pieces, all about lack of teachers and schools in poorer countries, for the competition organised by Oxfam. The bright young things even found the time to share their thoughts on the lack of education facing their friends all over the world. 

For 10-year-old Scarlett, from Stagecoach Blackpool, taking part taught her a lot about the state of the world as well as herself.  “When Oxfam came to my school, it made me think about how my life compares to the lives of other girls around the world.”  Scarlett even put a call out to government leaders (and her teachers), by saying: “Let other girls go to school instead of cleaning up! I am going to tell my teacher to do ACTivism again. We can really get the message across using drama, which is more fun.”

 Joel, 15, of Sunshine Studios in Manchester, agreed with Scarlett as he said, “Drama is a good way to show how we need education. There are a lot of children that don’t have education and ACTivism is a way to help.”

The event even made the kids realise what they take for granted, what they’re good at and that going to school can actually be fun! The Sunshine students made a video to show the positive impact education can have on a child's life.

As 11-year-old Lauren from St Basils Catholic Primary School in Widnes put it, “I am dramatic! I like expressing my feelings and getting a chance to improve myself” which ACTivism let her do.

Regarding the state of education around the world, the ‘dramatic’ performer said: “I don’t think that it is right to have so many children out of school. It makes me feel guilty that we tend to take school for granted. But it also made me think how lucky I am – I can go to school and take part in loads of fun activities. I am one of the fortunate people in the world.”

Whilst ACTivism was an education for all involved, the budding young stars also relished the opportunity to get stuck into writing and performing their plays. For 10-year-old Caitlin of St Basils, it was a family affair: “I liked everything about ACTivism, the games and making a performance. I liked rehearsing and performing in front of my family - my mum is here tonight to watch me.” Meanwhile, Nahida, 15, of Woodcraft Folk, loved the writing element. “The most exciting part for me has been writing the script and getting it together. I like drama. It is a good way to entertain people and get a good message across.”

The whole night proved entertaining, thought-provoking and above all else, educational, bringing awareness to a plight that affects children the world over. And as Nahida poignantly put it: “Working with Oxfam made me think hard about the power of education. Without education, what kind of life do you have?”

 Visit the Oxfam Youth Action blog here: http://oxfamblogs.org/youth/northengland/a-class-act

<div></object><br />OxfamACTivism - all Photos - <i>how to create a free slideshow</i></div>

Young people from Sunshine Dance and Arts Studios, famous for developing rising talent in Manchester, are a new group who have only started meeting regularly this year. When they found out about Oxfam ACTivism, they couldn’t wait to take part!

Moralyth, 13, said “I took part in ACTivism because I want to get better at drama and get more experience at performing. It’s difficult to know what life is like for others in different parts of the world. Now I know more about it. Drama is better than just talking about problems. It makes you experience them and it helps raising awareness. I would like to tell world leaders that as it stands, things are not fair and that we should all help more.”

The group were really keen to use a variety of performance techniques within their drama piece to highlight the issues – Hannah wrote a song which they all performed on the night with the help of Lauren’s acoustic guitar accompaniment and they even made an uplifting video to show how education can bring about change.

Their piece used light to symbolise education illuminating the darkness felt by people left behind in a world that keeps moving on without them, including a poem written by the group:

When thinking about working on the project over the past few months, Joel (shaved head), 15, reflected “I have been doing drama since I was 8 years old and I really enjoy it. ACTivism has been a good experience for me.  The thing I enjoyed the most is finding and discussing our own ideas about children from other countries not going to school. It is so unfair - it made me think that we are so lucky that we get an education when so many around the world don’t.”

Joel’s passion for the issues is clear in the plea he makes to decision-makers: “To the leaders of Governments around the world – train more teachers to work in countries where there aren’t enough so that every child can have a teacher.”

 It is currently estimated that 18 million more teachers are needed worldwide if every child is going to have access to primary education buy 2015.

For a summary and highlights of the entire evening, go to http://oxfamblogs.org/youth/northengland/a-class-act 

<div></object><br />Sunshine Studios - <i>Online Slideshow Maker</i></div>

Congratulations to the students from St Basil’s Catholic Primary School in Widnes who took home the ACTivism trophy for their play A Girl With A Dream! At the beginning, 60 children took part in a workshop run by Oxfam volunteers which introduced the student, aged 9-11, to the fact that there are children around the world who can’t go to school. 16 lucky children got to take part in the final showdown on the 10^th March 2011 at the Pyramid Theatre in Warrington to be crowned ACTivism champions!

So let’s hear from some of the performers. Caitlin, 10, said “I liked ACTivism so much! I liked everything about it, the games and making a performance. I liked rehearsing and performing in front of my family. I like singing and dancing and showing what I good at. I really enjoyed learning my lines- I didn’t have many, but I have also learnt everyone else’s! My mum is here tonight to watch me.”

Their play about the barriers stopping girls from getting as education - Poverty, Injustice and Discrimination, was the judges’ favourite, much to the excitement of parents in the audience, due to such clear presentation of the barriers each played by a boy in the group who withered and died each time the lead character overcame the obstacles.

Lauren, 11, said “We performed Something Inside So Strong and I got to sing a solo! I am dramatic! I like expressing my feelings and getting a chance to improve myself.” The play even included a Michael Jackson dance sequence complete with moon-walk! Megan, 11 stressed “We worked really hard after school, during lunch times and every spare second!”

When asked if taking part in ACTivism had changed her Caitlin said “I learnt a lot. I used to think that children didn’t go to school because they didn’t want to, not because they don’t have teachers. Usually I hate school because we get lots of homework, but after the Oxfam workshop I realised some kids would do anything to go to school so I felt lucky. School should be free. I would like to tell world leaders to send everyone to school because everyone has a right to education.”

Megan wanted people to know “Even though winning made me happy, I still feel sad that other children can’t go to school. Leaders who made a promise should keep it.” Hannah, 11, agrees “It is good to use drama to raise awareness of issues because people enjoy watching and it sticks in their minds more. We should do ACTivism to make sure people know how badly we feel about this and that we really care about what is going on in the world. When we do the play, we all have fun. I have never done anything like this before!”

For a summary and highlights of the whole evening, go to http://oxfamblogs.org/youth/northengland/a-class-act

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Nahida Al-Janabi, 15, is one of the members of the Woodcraft Folk, a movement for children and young people, who meet weekly in Levenshulme, South Manchester. Already passionate about global issues, Nahida loved taking part in Oxfam ACTivism Youth Drama Project and said “Working with Oxfam made me think hard about the power of education. I joined ACTivism to help raise awareness of the issue that so many children around the world cannot go to school. Without education, what kind of life do you have?”

 She added “The most exciting part for me has been writing the script and getting it together. It was fun preparing the scenes. I like drama. It is a good way to entertain people and get a good message across.” From their performance it was clear that the group had jumped on the chance to take their passion and channel it into a project which let them share the message of global access to education.

The group were so motivated by the issues that they inspired their parents to get involved too and worked with some of the parents to write a play. They wrote a twist on the Cinderella story and transported the studio audience straight to a village in Africa through costume, song and dance. Their play had a really positive message of how grassroots development can be successful in overcoming the problem of lack of access to education worldwide.

Nahida said “In order to get the facts right we had to do a lot of research. But now the time has come to perform in front of an audience. I was nervous about performing in front of loads of people but feel like I’ve come really far in the last few months. It made me think about what I take for granted. I don’t always like school but it gives me so many opportunities. I feel bad for others who can’t go to school. Taking part in ACTivism was a good experience for us but also a good experience for the people watching because they got to learn about the issue and enjoy the show!”

For a summary and highlights of the whole night go to http://oxfamblogs.org/youth/northengland/a-class-act

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Scarlett, 10, from Stagecoach Blackpool met weekly with the rest of her group to create a play that showed the stark difference in opportunities between the richest and poorest in the world, and to suggest ways in which we could share skills and resources through education to close the gap.

 “I think it is a bit unfair and upsetting that so many children around the world don’t get to go to school.” said Scarlett. “The thing I enjoyed the most about creating the play for the ACTivism competition was listening to other ideas. At the beginning it was difficult to fit things together and include everyone’s ideas. Performing tonight was my favourite part of the whole thing!”

When asked about what was most important about taking part in ACTivism, Scarlett said “The Oxfam workshop made me think about how my life compares to the lives of other girls around the world. My message to the leaders of governments around the world is: “Let other girls go to school instead of cleaning up!”

Joanna Page, Principal at Stagecoach Blackpool, says “children gain self confidence through learning acting skills. The issues were really new to the children and they were really shocked to learn about them. They were so keen to use their drama skills to promote the issue!”

Scarlett also said “I am going to tell my teacher to do ACTivism again: we can really get the message across using drama, which is fun!”

For a summary and highlights of the whole night go to http://oxfamblogs.org/youth/northengland/a-class-act

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Shannon, 13, was just one of 16 young people from Stagecoach Blackpool who got involved with Oxfam’s ACTivism Youth Drama Project. The project involved 6 groups from across the North West performing a piece they had created themselves in front of judges and a packed out studio audience. The performances were on the subject of children’s universal right to education. Shannon said “I would like to be an actress when I am older. Our play has dancing in it which has been really fun! It was hard to decide which ideas to include in our play.”

But Shannon wasn’t just in it to have a good time “It isn’t fair that other children around the world can’t have an education. I feel very differently about school because I can go to school and get a good education and get a good job.”

Rebecca, 12, agrees “I have learnt a lot through ACTivism. There are loads of children and mainly girls that are not going to school. I feel so lucky because I get to go to school. I appreciate that I get to learn. I have been thinking about what life is like for some children around the world. Things are easier to understand if you act out and use drama.”

Their final performance demonstrated the stark differences in opportunities between the richest and poorest in the world and suggested ways in which we could share skills and resources through education to close the gap.

When asked if Shannon would like to take part again she’s enthusiastic “I would like to do it again next year because I want to help others. Government leaders need to change the way it is for those who don’t have access to education.”

So we hope to welcome Shannon, Rebecca and the other group members back next year!

For a summary and highlights of the whole night go to http://oxfamblogs.org/youth/northengland/a-class-act

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“A mature and sophisticated dramatic response to some serious and complex issues” ACTivism judges praise the girls from The Queens School in Chester.

A group of 13 girls, who attend The Queen’s School in Chester showcased their excellent drama talent on the night. They were the winners of a mini-heat at school to decide which girls participated in the final competition as so many were eager to take part! Coming from an all-girls school, they were really motivated by the fact girls are much more likely than boys to not be given the opportunity of an education.

The girls were genuinely concerned that they should be doing something to tackle this injustice. Georgina, 12, said "I couldn't believe it when I found out that in some places girls do not get the same chances as boys do. It would not be fair if my brother could go to school but I couldn't."  Darcie, 12, agreed “It's been really fun working as a team but knowing we're doing something good for the world makes it even better."

The girls produced a really mature, artistic and sophisticated performance to communicate the message of education to the ACTivism audience partly inspired by the Girl Effect. Up and coming Warrington actress and ACTivism judge, Lauren Hickin, 17, said “I was so impressed by how The Queen’s School girls used so many drama skills to create an original and really thought-provoking piece of theatre!”

When Zoe, 12, was asked if she would like to carry on raising awareness of global issues, she replied “Of course! I have really enjoyed working on something different to the usual school-stuff, something that has a purpose. My teacher has even agreed that we will continue exploring similar issues in our drama classes for the rest of the term!”

For a summary and highlights of the entire night, please visit http://oxfamblogs.org/youth/northengland/a-class-act

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Blackpool youths from St Basil’s Primary School School, who are 10 to 11 years old, will be showcasing their drama piece along with seven groups from across the North of England for the first time at 7pm on Thursday, 10^th March, at the Pyramid Theatre in Warrington.

Their short plays, all about the lack of teachers and schools in poor countries, were all written by the kids themselves for the competition organised by Oxfam.

Gordon Astley, former Tiswas presenter and radio presenter is one of the judges who will have to nominate a winner.

Mr Astley says: “Lack of education is as much a definition of poverty as lack of money or housing. Imagine a world in which you couldn't read comics and books, or couldn't check if you had enough money to get the bus home. I am so proud to be associated with this event".

 Joanna Park Blackpool Stagecoach leader says "The children all love performing and they're looking forward to it!".

(download)

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Stagecoach_Blackpool.zip (2.78 MB)

Widnes youths from St Basil’s Primary School School, who are all 10 to 11 years old, will be showcasing their drama piece along with eight groups from across the North of England for the first time at 7pm on Thursday, 10^th March, at the Pyramid Theatre in Warrington.

Here 60 students are on Friday 14 January 2011 preparing short their short plays, all about the lack of teachers and schools in poor countries, were all written by the kids themselves for the competition organised by Oxfam.

Shirley Jones, teacher at St. Basils Primary, says: “The children have been staying behind after school to practice because they’re so keen! Their performance is about the barriers to education, injustice poverty and discrimination but somehow it also involves a healthy dose of Michael Jackson dancing!”

(download)

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St_Basils_Primary.zip (43.3 MB)

The girls at the Queen's School took part in the ACTivism workshop on the 10th of January 2010 to explore the reasons why some children can't go to school. They were particularly outraged by the fact that more than half of the 69 million children without access to school are girls.

They are looking forward to performing their final drama piece on the 10th of March from 7-9 pm at the Pyramid theatre in Warrington.

The girls have learnt a lot from participating already, here's what some of the girls had to say;

Leonorah - "It's been really eye opening to see how the lives of children in other countries are like."

Charlotte - "It's been really fun working as a team and knowing we're doing something good for the world."

Emma - "I couldn't believe it when I found out that in some places girls do not get the same chances as boys do. it would not be fair if my brother could go to school but I couldn't."

(download)

Click here to download:

The_Queens_School.zip (41.97 MB)