Story telling festival 2011under the theme "It takes a story to raise a child" and bedtime story project out of Aruba: "Bon nochi drumi dushi" adapted for St. Maarten under the theme: "Read me a bed time story" was a success.The story telling festival was held on Sunday the 6th of March 2011, on the parking lot of the library. Various certified story tellers from the Wijnand Stomp workshop in 2010 (which will be continued once again this year in September 2011) were present. Mrs. Elvie Bell, author of Wups and children's book author and coordinator of "Bon Nochi Drumi Dushi" Mrs. Olga Buckley had a public book reading. Papa Umpo told how every one got their common sense, Browlia Millard Campus grade 4 did skits, Nkosana Illis did an African story and dance and Mr. Roberto Arrindell did one of his poems.
The children who were present were entertained and enlightened with stories from various islands. They learned about honoring and obeying their parents, taking care of their animals, why the gold in Suriname is invisible, and that they too are children of the soil. They were also taken back to the good old days when they used to play with their skipping rope on the play ground.
Mrs. Olga Buckley who was on the island from the 5th to the 9th March went on to present her informational workshop to the staff of the Philipsburg Jubilee Library, the Belvedere community center, the patrons of the library, and the Strong Women of our community. The objective of the program is to promote the reading of bedtime stories in all families with young children.
The importance of reading to your young ones cannot be over emphasized. It plays a major role in the development of your child. It is an essential part of their life. Isn't it great to know that something so simple can make such a difference?
Mrs. Olga Buckley also presented the "Bon Nochi Drumi Dushi" program at the GJB Public Library on the 9th of March in St. Eustatius.
