Projects

Heartstone Projects are a practical intervention in the area of challenging racism and xenophobia with young people. They provide a method through which schools, youth groups and other organisations working with the age group 8-18 can utilise the Heartstone core materials of books, photographs and background feature articles to consider racism, prejudice and intolerance, support victims, challenge perpetrators and perhaps most importantly, raise awareness towards the issues to the point where action is taken in the face of incidents rather than being ignored.

They are also a method through which greater understanding and respect across nationalities and cultures can be fostered and lead to recognition that there are 'many sides to a story' depending upon cultural, historical and other perspectives.

Thus, a Heartstone Project encompasses a mechanism through which to deal with racist/xenophobic actions but to also challenge the underlying beliefs and attitudes from which these actions emanate.

Projects are designed to be flexible and take place in a variety of settings, from the structured setting of a school classroom, to more unstructured groups where young people may be 'dropping in' for just one session such as in youth and community groups.

How does it work?

Heartstone Story Modules

Heartstone stories have been compiled into 'Story Modules' in CD-ROM format to enable schools, youth groups and community organisations to have access to a large collection of photographs and linked story text which can be accessed with ease. Photographs and stories can be printed out and used as the basis of class/group discussion and project work. Details of current Story Modules available can be found in another section on this site.

Story Modules

Heartstone Portable Exhibitions

A Heartstone Portable Exhibition comprises 45 photographs plus story captions (usually 3 photographs to a caption) which are 16"x12" in size, encapsulated and come with two small display boards included within the box. They are designed to be placed in a school, youth group or community setting with the option of taking one story into a classroom or specific group using the two display boards for more detailed project work.

Stories within the exhibition are taken from the current Story Modules and include 'Chandra's London', 'Kosovo' and 'Coral Reefs'.

Heartstone Presenters

To support Heartstone Projects in local areas, presenters with dance-drama background are recruited to undertake training programmes from Heartstone's Scottish Highland base where they are equipped with their own Heartstone Story Resources, guidance on supporting and running projects, providing training for those wishing to run projects and a repertoire of Heartstone dance-drama workshops to be delivered for children and young people ranging in age from 4-18.

On returning to their own areas, they will be able to deliver workshops to initiate and support projects in nurseries, primary and secondary schools, youth groups and community organisations. Part of their role is also to work with other agencies who can assist in supporting projects eg. Community Police Officers.

Heartstone Presenters can be booked for workshops by any centre wishing to run a Heartstone Project. To find out if your area now has a team based there, and how to get in touch with them, contact us at Heartstone HQ.

Heartstone Workshops

As part of a Heartstone Project, schools/groups may wish to incorporate a Heartstone workshop for their children or young people. These are dance-drama based, delivered by Heartstone presenters, and are connected to the Heartstone Story Modules available. A workshop can last from 1-3 hours and does not require participants to have any detailed dance-drama background. They can be delivered for any age group from 4 upwards. Workshops use the Indian Classical Dance language of mudras (hand gestures) and mime which enable participants to explore stories and storytelling from a new angle. The techniques have been developed by Sitakumari, the Director of Heartstone and its principal Dancer/Storyteller and are passed on to presenters during their Scottish training weeks.

How long does it take?

A project may last just a couple of weeks, perhaps over a holiday period, right upto six months or even an hour a week for a full school year depending upon the depth to which the group leader wishes to go into the issues being covered. The length of time spent therefore is totally dependent on the type of group executing it. 

What does it involve?

If you would like to run a Heartstone Project within your school or group, firstly, you need to decide which combination of Story Modules, books and/or Heartstone Portable Exhibition you want to have as your story resources.

Then, get in touch with your local Heartstone Co-ordinator who will tell you which presenters are available in your local area to assist you in starting your project. If you need help in locating your Co-ordinator, get in touch with us at Heartstone HQ.

Projects are divided into three sections:

Part 1: through the Heartstone stories, groups are introduced to the issues of intolerance from a number of directions. This may be through the fictional story of 'The Heartstone Odyssey' , through the stories on Kosovo or through the stories and images from 'Chandra's London'. They may also wish to discuss the concept of issues requiring co-operation to solve which is presented in the Story Module on Coral Reefs.

All these stories are designed to help your group discuss and debate the issues, find out what they feel about them, discuss personal experiences they may have had which are relevant, and think about what they want to do about them. In addition to discussion, your group may want to create written and art work to express their feelings and experiences in a form which can be presented to a wider audience.

The process will help your group form their own definitions of what constitutes negative or positive behaviour and possible methods of intervention and prevention in each case.

Click the symbol for Charter Examples

Part II: Once ideas have been discussed, it's time to put them down on paper and create the 'Heartstone Charter'. This is more than a set of rules, it is intended to be a code for an 'ideal world', the world your group would like to see which will form the benchmark for future behaviour against which all actions are measured. Many have seen this section as one route through which to turn equal opportunities policies into action and you may wish to involve other professionals in your area to help your group formulate their document.

Part III: At the end of a project, participating groups are encouraged to stage their own Heartstone Exhibition to display all their work on the project and their Charter to which they they can invite other young people……..

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