'And Still I Write' is a new online offering that empowers children and young people to tap into a range of creative skills (i.e., poetry, storytelling, music, drawing, painting, dance, singing, drama, filmmaking, etc) for the purpose of creating their own authored published mini, illustrated book in due course through a WAPPY sponsor. Writing poetry and prose, doing art, and reading stories offer a “social vaccination” against all the restrictions imposed on young people in the pandemic crisis because they help children find a way to exit what Covid -19 has imposed on them. This is in line with WAPPY’s wider mission. namely, to work uniquely with young people to develop their aspirations and showcase the talents of young people to a global community. This is achieved through after-school clubs, community-orientated events, live performances, and published works.
These sessions will initially take place online. Using icebreakers, Q & A & other interactive approaches this session aims to create a safe space for aspiring, new, and seasoned young writers to network, find inspiration, see things from a different perspective, try something different and gain specialist advice. We plan to empower our members undertaking these writing workshops to create written and visual narratives that will be published in mini-illustrated books in the near future.
The first online workshop is scheduled for Saturday, February 12, from 4.30 pm to 5.30 pm, which is for 4-11s, children of primary school age. Then from 5.30 to 6.30 pm we have a follow on session for 11-18s, those of secondary school age. The second workshop is scheduled for Saturday 26th February, from 4.00 pm - 5.00 pm (primary school age). Members are welcome to continue over into the secondary school age workshop which starts from 5.00 pm - 6.00 pm. Parents will need to register their youngsters using this form: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cEaEefy9sP7dPhl-qc-NKV7C2-KBJ_eSVEFhD3mSD0E/edit?usp=sharing.
Guidance for Parents/Carers during the Zoom Sessions
First, please confirm that you would like to join the virtual workshop by getting in touch via wappy@live.com to register your email, your name, and young child/rens name if under 18 years. Your email will enable WAPPY to see who has signed up for the workshop and can help evaluate who’s attending.
If a young person is new to WAPPY please do complete a registration form as we need parental consent for publicity, which is downloadable via the website, or request one.
You will then be provided with a random ID and Password by Akuba/or another WAPPY staff member.
Locked Workshop Once started the workshop and all our participants have arrived, as host, I will lock the workshop so that no one else can join.
Parents/Guardians Joining the Session
A young person (age 4-18) can only join a session provided a parent is in the session, or visible in the room while your child/ren is taking part. We will want to audio record the session via an iPhone for evaluation/rechecking purposes, so we request parental written permission in an email when we invite participants to join the meeting. Occasionally we may require consent to visually record a session for publicity purposes but will always ask in advance and before the video is circulated. We expect participants to be visible during the sessions to facilitate face-to-face interaction and non-verbal communication.
Virtual Waiting Rooms WAPPY will use a virtual waiting room to enable WAPPY to check who each person is before allowing them entry.
No Screen Sharing will be allowed for participants. Only Akuba and other Staff members can host.
No Private Messaging To prevent distractions in the session WAPPY will not allow any private messaging between members, so to prevent peer talking without the knowledge of Akuba & other Co-Hosts.
Uninvited Visitors will be removed if someone manages to join our virtual workshop, we will remove them via the Participants Menu.
WAPPY Rules Apply: https://1drv.ms/w/s!AuvtJrO57Z1opCK7sZ3SJF7FyOng?e=rANybw
Created by Past Participants
Respect for Self
I will always do my best
I will positively participate in all WAPPY activities
Respect for Others
I will stay on task without disturbing or distracting others
I will not use ‘put downs’ or harass others
I will respect other people’s differences and opinions
Respect for WAPPY
I will raise my hand to speak
I will enter and exit the room quietly
I will complete all tasks on time
I will actively listen when the teacher is speaking
I will not chew gum (added by group)
I will switch off my mobile before the start of the course
Thank You!