• Itsekiri NextGen Project: Session 32 Report
• Topic: Craft Work
• Date: September 23, 2023
• Volunteers Present: 4
• Total Number of Attendees: 73
• Timings: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
• Venue: Former Caravan 4, Aja-Pessu (Pessu Town), Warri
• Resource Person: Debi Amadedon

Summary:

Session 32 of the Itsekiri NextGen Project, held on September 23, 2023, was centred around the theme of “Craft Work.” This creative session aimed to nurture the participants’ artistic abilities by introducing them to the creation of bookmarks and book organizers.

Session Delivery:

As participants settled in for the session, one of them stepped forward to lead the opening prayer, followed by the national anthem raised by another participant. Emmanuel Egbe conducted a recap of the previous session, ensuring everyone was on the same page.

To set the tone for the day, participants were asked how their parents felt seeing them with books and pens from Itsekiri NextGen. They expressed gratitude and appreciation for the project’s values and blessings upon those involved.

Debi Amadedon assumed the role of session facilitator, introducing the participants to the craft activities for the day: creating bookmarks and book organizers.

The bookmark, he explained, held significant importance for them. It served to protect and maintain their books in excellent condition, preventing the common issues of bending and folding when handling assignments. Additionally, bookmarks aided in holding book pages in place for easy reference and tracking of reading progress. Participants were provided with cardboard paper of various colours and design options for creating their unique bookmarks.

The book organizer, as its name implies, was designed to arrange books in a standing position, akin to a mini paper shelf or file. This tool brought order to personal libraries or school book collections, allowing books to be sorted by height for easy identification and access. Materials for crafting the book organizers included a straw board, cardboard of various colours, glue sticks or top bond, and crayons or markers for design.

To facilitate the crafting process, Debi Amadedon prepared bookmarks for all participants, which he distributed. Subsequently, materials and a video clip demonstration guided participants in creating their bookmarks. The video replay option allowed them to refer back as needed.

For the book organizers, participants were guided to use their largest book as a measurement guide to ensure the organizers accommodated books of varying sizes. Due to the use of glue guns, two were available for use during the session. Participants received hands-on instruction at tables in groups, taking turns to ensure everyone received guidance and was comfortable using the glue gun, many for the first time.

The entrepreneurial aspect of the session was also highlighted. Participants were encouraged to consider selling their crafted bookmarks and book organizers to classmates and neighbours for a nominal fee. With time and practice, they could transform this skill into a potentially lucrative venture.

Volunteers:

• Debi Amadedon
• Emmanuel Egbe
• Jolomi Tedeye
• Ugbeye Roselyn Bemigho

Other Key Activities During the Session:

Participants actively engaged in creating bookmarks and book organizers.