Greetings from Seven Stars, Headway.

HELLO

Now that we know who in Seven Stars is coming to Malta in September, we have started work on our show. Our first days session was last Thursday and we started looking through the big bag and creating stories about the objects we found inside inside, but thats a secret!!!!! This week we continued to explore these ideas and we also watched a DVD about Malta to give us a better idea of what to expect. We all thought it was very beautiful country, and are really looking forward to coming.

Over the next few weeks each member of our group would like to say hello and tell you a bit about them. The whole group are: Tim, Andy, Tracey, Paula, Kris and Jean. And first of the blocks is.............Tim

Hello, my name is Tim. I have been with Seven Stars for over five years. I come to Seven Stars because i enjoy acting and drama very much and i have made lots of good friends.

When i am not at Seven Stars i like to go walking with my parents in the nearby countryside. I also like video games and computing, and am the worlds biggest fan of Doctor Who (a very popular british science fiction tv series that has been running for almost 50 years, have you heard of it ???) I am so looking forward to going to Malta in September. I have been once before as a holiday two years ago and loved it. I look forward to meeting you all. you can't miss me i'm the one with the bright red hair (see photo). Best wishes, Tim.

Well thats all folks speak to you soon

Best wishes

Seven Stars

Malta launches the second phase

Last week, the Malta groups had the last sessions of the first phase of the project. Even though most of the sessions so far have included new games and exercises (other than the body shaking/waving goodbye that I improvised at the end of the first session in March which I since kept as the recogised closure of the session), last week most of the work was a development from exercises introduced earlier. It allowed for a recognition of the possibilities of continuation, as well as a feeling of comfort through working on the familiar whilst finding new things and new ways of doing an already experienced exercise. For example, I've introduced a big pink exercise ball into the sessions. In pairs, and sometimes also in groups of 4, I ask them to place their back to the ball and walk without letting the ball fall. It was amazing to see that even with a gap of two weeks, the second time round many participants could carry the ball a lot further than the first time round. So yes, in that sense of continuation and satisfaction from doing something again.
There was also a shift in energy last week as it seemed that participants had got used to the environment and group dynamics. I look forward to meeting weekly now as this will further encourage easy access into the session.

So, we're onto the second phase. After both the Thursday session and the Friday session last week we held meetings for the participants and their carers. This was to explain how the project is to continue. As we had announced at the beginning of the project there is not going to be a selection process, but rather participants are to select themselves by deciding from now on to fully commit to the project: to attend the sessions, which will now happen on a weekly basis, regularly; to increase in participation as we prepare for the visit of our partners in September; and to contribute to the organisation too by, for example, participating in meetings with journalists.

I think it will be a few sessions now before the groups resettle into new dynamics as a few participants might take leave of the project, and one or two exceptional cases change groups. So I think it will not be before the end of July that we begin working on building material for presentation in September. There's still a lot of exploratory work to be done!

In the meantime, here are a few pictures from last week's sessions.

Louise

Professional Resonance Group

Hello all,

Last week we had our first resonance group meeting for professionals. Four caretakers out of two different institutions turned up for this meeting.
First they had a chance to watch the second half of one of our sessions. Afterwards we discussed the project over lunch.
It was very interesting to hear how they had experienced watching the session. And it was very reasuring to hear they thought we were doing a good job although they also warned us about certain 'traps' of the trade.....little pointers on how to maybe do things differently.
On the other hand they also said they'd definitely take stuff home with them to their institutions...
So...a win, win situation where everybody learned a little bit from each other.

Next meeting for this group is August 28th, so any interested Belgian professionals reading this.....you're more than welcome....

Leen

Hello from Headway

Well its about time we got involved in this blog business, so here goes.........

Thank you again for an excellent time in Malta back in March, it was nice to finally meet and work with you all. if only our journey home was as enjoyable, but that is another story.

We begin wholly on the project next week, with a meeting on Tuesday with all the participants (5 so far, but we are working on the others) and their parents/carers to discuss the project all the practicalities involved and answer any questions and worries they might have. e.g. Do we have to do a drama based workshop on a beach in heavy rain? We also begin our sessions on Thursday and every Thursday after until we return to Malta in late September. Have your groups seen the bags yet? have they played Shuffle monster yet?

We are sorry we have not blogged earlier but we have been and are very busy. I will try to update you all on a weekly basis from now on.

I hope you are all well, and congratulations to Leen from everyone at Headway

Best Wishes

Steve

Belgian Update

Hello all,

Just a quick Belgian Update.

Our group is still going strong, learning new things every week. But I'll let Wim talk about the group (hint, hint)!

Belgium has decided to put together resonance groups to try and disseminate this project. Last week we had our first resonance group meeting with the parents of our learners. We'll try and invite them over approx. once a month so they can follow the progress of their son/daughter.

Next week we're having our second resonance group meeting with people who might like to follow the project out of a professional interest. This way we're hoping the project will expand to other institutions as time progresses!

That's all folks!

Malta groups

Hi all!

Well, I thought I'd update you all on the reorganisation we've carried out down south since you left. The large response from interested individuals that we got meant that we couldn't work well in a single group. So now, for this phase which we're still calling the 'taster phase', we've got 2 groups running parallel to each other: one group meets every other Thursday, and the other group meets every other Friday. We have 36 registered individuals, 19 meeting on Thurs. and 17 meeting on Fri. Yes! they're still big numbers to work in a single space!
We've also got a hub of volunteers together: Thursday support and Friday support. They're great to work with; enthusiastic about the project, and creative and caring workers.
This week we started working in this new format, and we will continue in this way until the first week of June. Some of the participants asked after you all, and are already looking forward to seeing you again!
The groups already have a different identity. The Friday group, which is the group with more of the newer individuals who didn't participate in the March session when you were here, seems to be a lot quieter. It allowed for some participants, who seemed very withdrawn in March, to really come out of themselves. We had great fun looking for imaginary balls (thanks Steve for that name game! :-)], picking up new ones, transforming them into chocolate balls which we ate, and even helping each other throw the heavier ones.
So that's for our new start!
We'll update you soon with news of our second phase which is to start mid-June with those committed participants.

sending you all a lot of warm April sun!

Hello?

Hello, are you receiving me?
...... Greetings from Headway to you all. just testing the system. We will talk soon about important things like the project.

Best Wishes

Steve
Headway

It's all about the people!

Last week Malta hosted Opening Doors project partners Leopoldsburg and Headway for an exchange seminar whose main purpose was to prepare the workshop leaders for the project. This was a significant event on two counts.

First of all it was important for us to meet each other again, this time with a more concrete vision of the active team members in the project, giving us the possibility to come closer to understanding each other's attitude to the work. Secondly, it served as a lanuching pad for the project in Malta. On this count, a public seminar was held at St.James where each project partner presented one aspect of the project that was significant to them, thus strengthening the project on the Maltese front; more importantly however, interested participants were finally invited to the centre for creativity for the first workshop which took place on the evening of the 27th of March.

It was a very particular experience to open the workshops in such circumstances. Initial workshops are always stressful to lead since preparation is that much harder - there are just too many unknowns one has to cater for in the tasks one prepares. Added to this, was the stress of thinking about how many professionals were to be present at this session observing very closely the proceedings of the session, as well as affecting the dynamics of the session.

However, during the session it became clear to me that this was in fact an incredible opportunity. On the one hand, the particular qualities of Steve, Wim, Tanja, and Anne meant that they were subtle in integrating themselves into the session. But at the same time they were strongly present to be able to alert me to individual participants' needs, and to add additional support to the too-numerous group of participants. It also meant there were 4 extra pairs of eyes to report back to me many more of the too many subtle details for me to take in at one go!

I also now realise how lucky I was on another account: Leopoldsburg's team workers and Headway's team workers have had further access into my work and some of the participants we will be working with in Malta and they will be able to understand more clearly any comments I pass, any questions I raise, and difficulties I consult about. How more sensitive will their responses be! (and how much more demanding on them am I going to be ;-)]

Most of all though, I think the whole of the experience was valid for one overriding reason: the strength of the collaboration. Thanks team for the energy you gave! I can't wait to work with you all again in the same physcical space, but in the meantime let's continue to develop our partnership virtually.

I wish you all the very best for the progress of your work.

Another Press Article for Belgium...

Hello,

Another Newspaper picked up the story in today's newspaper.
Transcript below (in Dutch...)

Cultuurcentrum opent Europese deuren voor andersvaliden

LEOPOLDSBURG - Het cultuurcentrum krijgt de volgende twee jaar subsidies voor het Europees project 'Opening Doors'. Leopoldsburg©© is daarmee het eerste Vlaams cultuurcentrum dat een Grundtvig-Leerpartnerschap coördineert. Voor dit project werkt Leopoldsburg©© samen met het St.-James Cavalier Centre for Creativity in Malta en de Headway Theatre Company in Engeland.

'Opening Doors' wil een procesmatige methode ontwikkelen om met andersvaliden rond drama te werken. 'De nadruk wordt vooral gelegd op de persoonlijke evolutie van de deelnemers, minder op het resultaat', zegt projectleider Leen Bouwens. 'Het Britse Headway Theatre Company werkt zo al. Headway's groep Seven Stars is ondertussen uitgegroeid tot een volwaardig theatergezelschap met andersvalide acteurs.'

Eind deze maand vindt een uitwisseling voor de projectwerkers plaats in Malta, waar zij een trainingsseminarie zullen volgen. Na dit seminarie wordt in de drie landen verder gewerkt met de eigen groepen, want ook Leopoldsburg©© en St.-James in Malta hebben ondertussen een eigen dramagroepje voor andersvaliden opgericht. Leopoldsburg©© werkt samen met twee lokale instellingen, vzw 't Brugske en vzw Berkenhof, die zeventien andersvaliden inzetten. Wim Oris van de vormingsorganisatie voor kunst- en cultuureducatie Wisper staat in voor de wekelijkse professionele begeleiding.

Het tweede luik van het project focust op de mobiliteit van de groepen. 'Elk partnerland houdt een klein theaterfestival waarop de groepen uit de andere landen worden uitgenodigd, een unieke kans voor de deelnemers om Europa te verkennen', zegt Leen Bouwens. Het festival in Leopoldsburg vindt plaats rond maart/april 2009. Op het einde van het project publiceren de partnerlanden een online-boekje met daarin hun bevindingen. Na het aflopen van het project in 2009 hoopt Leopoldsburg©© dat het initiatief verder gedragen wordt door de lokale partners, vzw 't Brugske en vzw Berkenhof. (pbvm)

Voor meer informatie: www.grundtvigopeningdoors.blogspot.com

Source: Het Nieuwsblad, zaterdag 22 maart 2008, pg28

Opening Doors in the press

Well,

Belgium had an exciting day yesterday, hosting a press conference about the project. I must say I kind of rushed through the project (I blame the nerves!) and was wondering if they even had a clue what I was talking about.

But then came the questions and Wim (our coach) answered them brilliantly! We also appreciated the fact that Renilde Reynders from our national agency (vzw Epos) made the effort to come all the way down to Leopoldsburg. She certainly helped to explain the European side of the project!

One paper published an article about the project today, so I guess we can call it a success already. Two other papers will probably pick up the story at a later time too.

In the mean time the Belgian Project workers are getting all excited about the seminar in Malta next week. More about this later!

Picture source: Het Belang van Limburg, Vrijdag 21 maart 2008, pg 47