#telemcenter

On Saturday, September 27, 2014 Telem Center for the African Child joined Citizens Committee for New York City on the High Line to get people thinking about why Oral History is important, exciting and accessible to anyone who wants to do their own oral history project. Here is a taste of what went down!

What is an Oral History? Oral history is the collecting of stories and narratives from individuals in order to preserve voices, experiences, and history. 

Want to learn how to produce your own oral history? Here are some "how to" docs:

           I want to attend Telem Camp 2012 because I want to meet other young adults of African descent and learn from them about their culture.  I also want to learn how to develop my team work and leadership skills.  I also enjoy activities outdoors and want to learn more about nature because I adore nature and its resources.  Because my school schedule can be very intense, I do not usually get the time to relax or have fun. Attending Telem Camp would give me a chance to relax, have fun, and get to know more about other people.

           I am really looking forward to playing and learning new games with other African kids and laughing at the jokes we all make. In doing so, I would also experience the life of growing as a young African lady. When I was back in Ghana, I didn’t have the chance to travel around our continent and when I came to America at the age of twelve, I still haven’t had the opportunity to travel around to see the lives of people in other countries, especially in Africa.

           Oftentimes the most widely propagated “truth” about someone, or something, can quickly become its only face. This is truly the case for Africa.  To the outside world, the mere mention of the continent conjures up images of emaciated children and perpetual civil war. Indeed, these atrocities are happening in Africa, but the problem arises when this is the extent of your learning on such a vast continent, and when this leads to a diminished expectation on anything or anyone who stems from there.

           Being Proudly African yet truly international means when you’re an African you have to have pride.  Like when my family sings African songs, it makes me feel warm and proud of where I’m from.  When I wear African clothes it makes me feel heartwarming.  Every time I eat fufu, chakari and rice and plasas. That’s why I like being African.