By Sainabou Gassama
Ebunjan Performing Arts Association Theatre and Troupe Saturday held a press briefing to discuss a new project called Theatre – an effective tool for human rights education in The Gambia.
The press briefing held at the Ebunjan Theatre was attended by the Chairman of National Human Right Commission, the project consultants, members of Ebunjan Performing Arts Association and press.
Addressing members of press, Madam Janet Ebunjan-Young, artistic director and chairperson of Ebunjan Performing Arts Association gave a comprehensive background of the project.
She disclosed that the project is for two years and Ebunjan Performing Arts Association will implement the first part of the two-year project on issues pertaining to the rights of the child in the Gambia.
According to her, the project is funded by the Netherlands government with the objective of providing playwriting and directing skills to twelve graduates from the department of English in the School of Arts and Science at the University of The Gambia who are currently teachers at the upper and lower basic schools in the Greater Banjul Area.
Madam Bajan-Young disclosed further that the training will also underscore the fact that Human Rights culture demands responsible behavior and activities and “at the end of the training session, teachers will motivate and encourage students to participate in narrating factual events on Human Rights violations within their communities.”
In addition to that, she said, the first collection of twelve edited short plays to be written and directed by the teachers will be performed at a planned Human Rights Festival in November 2022.
Emmanuel Joof, chairman of National Human Rights Commission highlighted the importance of streamlining human rights in schools and said the commission will help to strengthen awareness through theater.
“We have to learn to live together despite our differences, children especially girl child are prone to human right violations such as: early marriage, force marriage, child labour and FGM. The law has forbidden such but they are still existing therefore we need to raise awareness through theater,” he said.
“The human rights commission will collaborate and partner with this initiative.” Even the political parties are using the children in rallies. In political rallies you will see children wearing T-shirts this are all against the rights of the children.
“We have to instill moral values in our children because the way we mold our children determine the society we are going to have tomorrow,” he added.
