On the right is a picture frame made by Collegiate students from pagne cloth from Cameroon. I purchased this frame a few years ago. The young woman in the picture is the daughter of Holly, artist, art teacher and writer. Holly's daughter was living and working in Cameroon as a Peace Corps volunteer, and after visiting her, Holly brought back bolts of fabrics for her Collegiate students.
Now let Holly tell the rest of the story.
"Collegiate second graders have corresponded and connected with Jam's Academy for the past 3 years. The students create, market and sell products made from pagne, the bright boldly patterned fabrics of Cameroon.The profits have been used to buy books for Jam's Academy. This year Holly wrote a story about this connection and guided her students in illustrating the text. Martine Tchitchiche, Cameroon native and girls' education advocate, translated the text into French. The story tells of a fictitious Collegiate student and a Jam's Academy student wondering about each other's lives."
Martine will visit Collegiate to talk to second graders as well as French students and art students. Copies of the book will be on sale to further support Jam's Academy. The whole process has been a wonderful collaboration of creativity and humanity. This book, as wonderful as it is, is only a token of the learning and empathy that have been nurtured among our students. What an amazing statement it makes.
