A manifesto for happy children everywhere, by the Riverbank Imagineers.
A newsletter for children, families and the people of Aberdeen about the Imagining Aberdeen Project
Children’s Parliament is working with children from four Aberdeen City schools – Imagining Aberdeen as a place where children are healthy, happy, safe and doing their best at school.
So far 300 children have taken part in workshops at school where we have been thinking and talking together about some big ideas like human dignity. The children created an amazing new way to measure dignity – above is one their diagnometers.
In the next phase of the project 5 children from each of our 4 schools will work with artists and a film-maker to represent their vision for the city.
What’s next for our Imagineers?
The next part of the project with our team of 20 imagineers is taking place on the following days:
Wednesday, 18th May is TEAM DAY
We are getting the full team together for the first time! The 20 children will meet each other and the Children’s Parliament team of artists who will help them in their role as imagineers.
Monday 23rd to Friday 27th May is MURAL WEEK + DVD PROJECT
Over the course of this week, the children will create a large-scale mural that represents all of the ideas from the 300 children who took part in the school workshops. We are also making a short film to capture all the great ideas our imagineers have.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can contact Catrin or Colin on catrin@childrensparliament.org.uk and colin@childrensparliament.org.uk
The Imagining Aberdeen blog will be updated everyday during Mural Week with pictures and ideas from the participating children. You can get involved by leaving your own comments underneath the blog posts. It would be great to hear what you have to say!
You can follow Children’s Parliament on Twitter @creative_voices
Children from Riverbank Primary talked about adults:
The kinds of things adults should say to children are: “I love you”; “Well done”; “Go play outside”; “Don’t fight with your sister”; “Be good”. Adults should make children feel safe, loved, calm, happy and awesome.
Children from Riverbank Primary talked about how important families are: Our families love us and want to keep us safe.
‘Sometimes families need help too. Children can help their families. Aberdeen would be a better place for families if it was cleaner and there were more trees, flowers and parks.’ (Picture by Jack P5)
Riverside Primary is our 4th partner in the Imagining Aberdeen project. Children are also reflecting on what they love and want to change about life in their community.
‘The best thing about our community are our friends and having people who care about you. We love playing outside. The community flat helps people. We don’t like shouting and people who swear or bullies. People should have a good life.’
Ajay, Leighton, Jennifer, Abigail, Demi and Cali (P4, P5 and P6)
Children from Riverbank Primary have been thinking about school life.
‘Today we were talking about school – what we like in school and what we do in school. The most important things to be healthy, happy and safe are having friends, playing and playtime, doing maths, having PSAs and teachers.’
Julija, Mikey, Owen, Ethan and Ellee P6/7 Riverbank PS
When you learn what human dignity means to you, you are less likely to accept when other people hurt, discriminate or put someone down.
‘Feeling good about yourself and having parents to chat to gives you human dignity.’
P4/5 Riverbank Primary School
IMAGINING ABERDEEN
In 2016 we will be working with Aberdeen City colleagues on an exciting new programme of work engaging with children and communities in the City. Our school partners will be Bramble Brae Primary, Manor Park Primary, Riverbank Primary and Tullos Primary. The programme focuses on imagining Aberdeen as a place where children are healthy, happy and safe.
