Little kids take on big issues at Mash competition

Feb 08, 2011 News

They might be in nursery school, only now taking steps towards learning to read and write, but those in the Mashramani dramatic poetry competition yesterday showed that they could take on big issues – from domestic violence to the health crisis created by a poorly managed dumpsite.
None of them did it better than Toshana Bancroft, of the South Ruimveldt Park Nursery School. Things got curious in the dramatic poetry competition when she emerged on the stage of the National Cultural Centre wearing a tattered dress, her head bandaged, and a band aid pasted to her cheeks.
She announced that her poem was entitled “Please Help My Daddy” and used Creole language to adopt a rather mature view of the issue of domestic violence. She did address how women are battered, but she did not heap scorn on the men who do the beating.
“I love my mommy, but I love my daddy, too” she advocated that men who do the beating need not necessarily be seen as outcast and treated that way. Rather they should be helped.
Her point was that children are affected by domestic violence, but that they need both parents to meet their needs and so, she begged, repeatedly that someone “please help my daddy.”
Her poem was written by a teacher, and though she added humour to her presentation, little Toshana addressed a rather vexing problem in society and her wish is that those who seek to address the problem of domestic violence also focus on men, who are the abusers in most cases.
Not surprising, the judges gave Toshana the top prize when it came time for results.
Her fellow nursery school pupils also addressed tough issues. Davindra Parboo, of the Bel Air Nursery School addressed the health crisis created by the poorly managed Mandela Dump Site, and told the audience that if anyone did not believe him to “ask Mark and Freddy,” referring to social activist Mark Benschop and newspaper columnist Freddie Kissoon who were locked up for a traffic violation when they tried to block dumping at the site.
His admonition was for the dumping to end at the dumpsite even as plans were announced by the government to do just that.
Stella Maris Nursery school student Jaden Stanton pleaded the migration problem, saying that even though “things tight” he was going to head out to America.
The dramatic poetry competition at the National Cultural Centre marked the start of the children’s Mashramani competition for the Georgetown district.
The competition continues all week.

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Little kids take on big issues at Mash competition

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