Ebunjan Performing Arts Association Theatre and Troupe have decided to use arts to bring positive change with the issues of human rights especially among children. This project came into existence following an in-depth study on the human rights situation, particularly of children.
Some selected teachers who are graduates from the department of English in the school of arts and sciences in the university of Gambia currently teaching at the upper and lower basic schools in the Greater Banjul Area underwent rigorous training for 12 months for this project.
The project is called “Theater arts- an effective tool for human rights education.” They are set to present “one act play” written by the students of the University of The Gambia.
Among the plays selected for the presentation are “A bright light turned off” by Raki Jallow and “Deception” by Mariam Sarr. They shone light on the problem of early marriage and female genital mutilation respectively.
Both authors are students of University of The Gambia while the actors in these performances are students from Zenith International West African International Interior Academy and Banjuliding Upper Secondary Schools respectively. The actors are selected by Ms. Grace Chapman, lecturer and director of University of the Gambia’s theater in education programme
The performance is slated to hold on the 20th of November by 5:00pm at Ebunjan Theater opposite American International University West Africa, Kanifing and entry is totally free of charge.
The main aim is to use theater, plays, music, dance and poetry; a combination of the arts to educate the public. It is used to examine human rights issues with the focus on children.
Several plays were read and analyzed for this project and one of the plays is “hand of fate” based on a true Gambian story about early marriage. Some of the plays written by the University of The Gambia students are still in progress.
Madam Janet Badjan-Young, the artistic director and chairperson of Ebunjan Performing Arts Association said the project is funded by the Netherlands Embassy in Senegal.
The artistic director commended Dr. Cherno Barry, former executive secretary at the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), who had provided them with in-depth information on the human rights situation, particularly of children in The Gambia.