In a world of increasing global interconnectivity, lack of exposure to different cultures, perspectives, and diverse people will hinder preparation to embrace the opportunities of the future. This lack of exposure is a particular problem for children growing up in places like Memphis - a city where limited resources and access prevent many young people from traveling or venturing beyond… you guessed it - Memphis. Without these opportunities to expand their horizons, so many youth will be left behind - further separating the haves from the have nots.
With this emerging reality, Tarik Black Foundation sees global education fundamental to training young people for the future. We have made global diversity education one of four curriculum initiatives in our Taking Back The Future program. It is so critical to life skills education that we search for superior resources to offer effective and relevant learning experiences.
One of our resource partners is Lyfta. An award-winning immersive learning platform created by educators and filmmakers in the United Kingdom and Finland. Lyfta offers students in our International Social Justice Exchange powerful lessons in global diversity and inclusion. In the 2021 -22 program are six Memphis students who are participating in virtual workshops with six students from different countries. The local students attend the Memphis Ambassadors program. The international students are from Liberia, Ethiopia, Israel, Costa Rica, Palestine, and Colombia attending Givat Haviva International School in Israel.
Lyfta is brilliantly produced film and curriculum that are called storyworlds and used as the bases for global diversity education. The workshops recently conducted by Lyfta educators Anna Szpakowska and Joakim Rowley created a safe virtual space for our multicultural group of young learners. Within this space students were free to share unique perceptions and beliefs as they explored universal social justice issues.
Playback Memphis is another partner this year. Their improvisational style of theatre vignettes encourages visualisation of emerging feelings, thoughts, and insights that occur during sessions.
This exchange program occurs in the mornings of holiday breaks for Memphis students when it is evening for students participating in Tel Aviv. Since the exchange takes place outside of the classroom with such a culturally diverse group, it is super important that it is fun, engaging, and meaningful. So far students have given us positive feedback. In some cases, they have asked if we could continue beyond the hour and half planned.
This phenomenal exchange using Lyfta and PlayBack Memphis is giving Memphis students a sense of being in an international classroom alongside students and instructors from many different countries. For the six multi-national Givat Haviva students, the exchange is elevating their understanding of Memphis, a city known for a trendsetting urban youth culture and its civil rights history.
The combination of videos and theatre is our way of teaching outside of a classroom setting and offering relevant social justice education to twelve young people who themselves represent a world of cultures, traditions, and legacies.
Thanks to Lyfta we are providing virtual access to global travel for Memphis students and their international peers. Coupled with Playback Memphis, we are offering youth the chance to journey beyond borders and experience cultures outside of their own.
