August 2022 - Tumaini Students Collage Future Careers 

 
 

At the age of eleven or twelve, many Tumaini students, like their peers across the globe, have big ideas about what they would like to be when they grow up. From astronauts to musicians to doctors, and the list goes on. Of course, many students are not aware what lies ahead on the path to these professions. This is where the Tumaini Vocational Skills course comes in!

For sixth-grade students at Tumaini Junior School, the Vocational Skills course is intended to introduce them to an array of career options and some of the skills needed to succeed in those fields. One of those skills is to employ their creativity and use different media to express themselves without the direct influence of teachers or school leaders.

Students were given old newspapers, etching knives, and glue sticks. Their task: Develop a theme and create a collage using newspaper clippings to depict their selected theme. The students quickly embraced the activity. Some referred to their dreams and aspirations of working in sports or going to Walt Disney World while others focused on subjects they enjoyed in school.

Shani, a TEC sponsored student, themed her collage around fashion. She drew inspiration from the cultural styles on the African continent and global fashion trends she admires. She enjoyed the freedom to create with only one rule of having a theme. This activity was also exciting as it gave a new purpose to the newspapers from the library, a lesson on functional and creative reuse!