BEFORE all these white guys with guitar (WGWG) started becoming dime-a-dozen with their cute smiles and fabricated music, there were those who came out from the 1960s on through the 1990s who, actually, did carry a lot of talent with them.
As I go through the British Council’s global program it has dubbed “Elevate,” I could not help but think of Cat Stevens, one of the original WGWG, and his song “Where Do The Children Play?”
Kiddies: Your lesson for today, three days before the New Year, is to familiarize yourselves with this WGWG, a.k.a. Yusuf Islam and his music.
Here are a few lines from the song I just mentioned:
When you crack the sky, scrapers fill the air.
Will you keep on building higher ’til there’s no more room up there?
Will you make us laugh? Will you make us cry?
Will you tell us when to live? Will you tell us when to die?
I know we’ve come a long way,
We’re changing day to day, But tell me, where do the children play?
Building a global community of problem-solvers
ACCORDING to the British Council, Elevate “challenges, connects, develops and illuminates outstanding creative individuals who have the potential to positively change the way we live.”
They want to build a global community that has creative problem-solvers who will come out with solutions for everyday practical challenges.
The five pillars of Elevate are educate and play, health and well-being, creative cities, environment, along with play and safety.
Now, if you are staring at this column with a quizzical look on your face and asking loudly what I am talking about, here are some things about the program that will get you excited and interested.
Let me see. Numbers always get everyone’s attention. So, how about SG$50,000 for starters?
Next, how about a certification from Goldsmiths, University of London and the British Council itself? How does recognition as an alumni fellow of the British Council’s first regional innovation movement sound to you?
Now, if those are not enough, the program will also provide a one-week intensive Innovation Camp in Japan with key innovation speakers, leaders and facilitators, plus high-profile mentoring and leadership, including accommodation and travel.
Then, there will also be collaboration opportunities with other innovators and artists from East Asia and the United Kingdom, a suite of professional development opportunities during the fellowship, and an opportunity to secure funding for the submission of innovative new ideas.
Now, to get all of that, you have until January 5, 2015, or exactly eight days from now, to submit your application and your idea on how to create the ideal play spaces for children 8 years old and below. The application must include a two-minute private YouTube video explaining your idea.
Realistic possibilities and potentials
IT is a given that we Filipinos have a built-in advantage of being really creative in everything that we do. But, do not be complacent. This is not just a program that is exclusively being offered here in the country.
The British Council will be choosing the 12 best applications from here in the country and those from Australia, Burma, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and South Korea.
The applicants will be selected by a split-assessment team from the British Council and its program partner Lien Foundation, based on the presented idea, values, leadership potential and commitment to making a difference in society.
The British Council wants the applicants’ ideas to have realistic possibilities and potential to be further developed. They are looking for ideas that represent applicants’ values, creativity in solving problems, and willingness to work with others in developing their ideas.
The sacred business of early childhood
ACCORDING to the British Council, play is the sacred business of early childhood. It is the stage where children explore, learn and grow. It added that the growing years is essential to the emotional, physical and creative development of a child.
It then added that children need the proper play environment and not cookie-cutter, plastic playgrounds, air-conditioned padded play gyms, or isolating technology in a dark room.
Personally, I am just happy the British Council is using this program to find individuals from different nationalities and backgrounds to come out with new ways for children to enjoy playing in healthy environments.
Even as technology has brought us limitless possibilities in the way we live our lives, I just do not like the fact that we, as individuals across all ages, are becoming so wired.
Even kiddies count their friends by the number of friends they have on Facebook. They play team games and role-playing online.They have conversations over SMS, Viber, or Skype.
Is this the direction we really want to proceed?
The British Council will notify the 12 selected applicants on January 15, 2015, with the Innovation Camp to start on February 23, 2015.
Happy New Year everyone.
Be very careful when lighting firecrackers. I want to see you reading the BusinessMirror and this section next week with all of your 10 fingers intact.
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For comments, suggestions, and reactions, I can be reached at raalzona@yahoo.com.