Students on placement: Smiles Africa
Today we are speaking with Shakira Nakito, Amirah Samer and Malika Sandover, current students on the Drama, Applied Theatre and Education, BA course, about their third year placement at Smiles Africa in Kenya in the Autumn term in 2023.
Tell us about your placement!
Our placement with Smiles Africa was in Nairobi, Kenya for six weeks. We worked with a group of 30 young people between the ages of 6 -21 years in a mentoring group, where we explored many topics around peer pressure, identity, and self-empowerment in a playful and performative way. We also worked with two other groups, both groups of roughly 30 young men from the age of 12-22 years who are in their first year of rehabilitation and recovery. For three hours of their day we ran a workshop that would explore identity, self awareness and self empowerment through art, singing, dancing, drama, games and meditation.
How was the experience of working with the organisation and participants?
Working with Smiles Africa was an incredible experience, as it felt more like a partnership than just a collaboration. Our host and the young individuals we worked with were not only helpful but also incredibly patient with us, they opened up their space to us, allowing us to teach them various drama games and activities. It was truly inspiring to see how these individuals approached every activity with open minds and a genuine sense of curiosity. One child said “I am excited to know what they will do with us each week!”. Despite the initial scepticism, they embraced the idea that sometimes, the silliest and most unconventional methods can lead to the greatest breakthroughs.
What is your greatest takeaway from the experience of your placement?
Throughout our placement, we experienced significant personal and professional growth as facilitators. The environment provided generous opportunities for each of us to develop and improve in areas where we needed growth. We were given the freedom and support to explore our strengths and weaknesses, allowing us to become better facilitators in the process. This experience was truly invaluable, as it empowered us to enhance our skills and knowledge from our course, ultimately making us more effective in our roles.
