The children learnt about the impact of plastic pollution on our oceans and created beautiful pieces of artwork from plastic waste collected from the beach.
The workshop aimed to use art to connect with young people and raise awareness of the issue, changing behaviours towards plastic pollution, and protecting the marine biodiversity in Solomon Islands.
Supported by the British High Commission together with the British Council New Zealand and Dreamcast Theatre Solomon Islands, students aged between 9 to 11 years, worked remotely with renowned UK artist Mandy Barker to create pieces of artwork made from everyday plastics.
Mandy who helped guide the children through the creative art workshop said:
I’m humbled to think I might have made a difference on the other side of the world. Never in my wildest dreams. It makes what I do worthwhile when you can see the results. Thank you for letting me facilitate the workshop to inform them of the issue. It only takes one child to be inspired to become an ambassador for the environment and try to make changes.
The children’s artwork was on display at the Dreamcast Theatre Art Hub in Honiara for public viewing until Friday 21 October 2022.
Acting British High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, Nicola Noble described the event as a real success. She said:
It’s wonderful to see the positive impact this unique workshop has had on the children who participated. The Oceans and Plastics workshop is a result of a successful collaboration between the British High Commission in Honiara together with the British Council in New Zealand and Dreamcast Theatre Solomon Islands. I would like to acknowledge the children from Perch, Koloale, Tuvarufu, Coronation and the Honiara Integrated Community School for their participation as well as their parents and teachers for permitting them to attend and learn about this important issue.
Speaking at the art exhibition event on Tuesday, 18 October in the afternoon, Minister of Education and Human Resources Development, Hon. Lanelle Olandrea Tanangada said:
This exhibition is lifelong learning for our young children, who have demonstrated their creativity, teamwork, ownership of their environment and most importantly to become responsible and environmental friendly citizens. Our life on the islands depends on the ocean, we are the ocean and we must at all costs influence others to keep our environment plastic free.
On behalf of the Government and the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development, I sincerely thank the British High Commission, British Council New Zealand and the Pacific and Dreamcast theatre for taking this initiative to work with our selected schools and their students and teachers. Parents should be proud of their children, as these wonderful children have demonstrated outstanding artwork, in the hope to promote our ocean and plastics and the impacts and consequences of plastic waste.
Director of British Council New Zealand and the Pacific Natasha Beckman was in Honiara for the two-day workshop and art exhibition and said she was very pleased to have achieved so much in so little time. She said:
It was wonderful to see the creativity of the children and the pride they had in their work when showing it to their teachers and parents. From the two days, I hope the children have been inspired to use art and culture to raise awareness of global problems.
Congratulations to all who attended the UK-Pacific Oceans and Plastics workshop. It was a fantastic two-day event, filled with fun and creativity at the Dreamcast Theatre Art Hub in China Town, Honiara. The students’ artworks were displayed to their parents and teachers as well as the Minister of Education and Human Resources Development and other guests.
Rickson Bau | Press & Public Affairs Officer
British High Commission Honiara, Phone: (+677) 21705 Ext. 2004, Mobile: (+677) 8434221
Email: bhc.honiara@fcdo.gov.uk
Natasha Beckman | Director Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific
British Council New Zealand and Pacific, Mobile: +64 (0) 21 1991044
Email: natasha.beckman@britishcouncil.org
Website: www.britishcouncil.org.nz
Neil Nuia | Creative Director
Dreamcast Theatre Solomon Islands, Mobile: (+677) 7875166,
Website: https://www.dreamcastsolomons.com/
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