(VOVworld) –20 Mong children in Can Chu Phin commune, Ha Giang province, recently participated in the production of a radio musical. The program was organized by Plan International, an international children-centered community development NGO, and iSee, the Institute for Studies of Society, Economy, and Environment.
The children were taught simple games in their own dialect. They listened to some music and produced corresponding body movements, depending on what they felt. This game allowed them to use their imagination and immerse themselves in local scenes and sounds. The program’s aim was to introduce radio musical to the children with an open and friendly approach. 8th grader Ly Mi Tra said: “I like the musical because it is close to our lives. I’m happy to be a part of it.”
The children were instructed to become connected by listening to each other’s breath and heartbeats and the silence around them. The children used their imagination to draw pictures of their natural surroundings and dreams. Girls preferred different kinds of flowers while boys preferred rocks and colorful rainbows.
The story of the musical concerns a 13-year-old boy in Can Chu Phin who likes to call himself “rock”. Since he was born, he saw rocks everywhere and he wanted to be a rock which would forever stay strong despite any kind of weather.
The boy is 8th grader Vu Mi No: “I drew a rock because I live in a mountain area. This rock is very important. It’s big, beautiful, and weather resistant.”
The games encouraged the children to observe and talk about their feelings, which, with the support of volunteers, were turned into a radio play.
Tuyet Minh, a specialist in the use of art in community development, said she was surprised by the children’s creativity: “Their observation, imagination, and word choice are impressive. Their story about a mustard flower is sad. Mustard flowers only bloom in winter while roses bloom all year round and the roses want to play more with the mustard flowers. The story is simple but it reflects the children’s observation of their natural surroundings.”