Hey every one, so we were making rapid progress on the book, but this week work basically totally subsided because we had graduation a week early. My friend Lieve, a driving force at the school, is returning to Belgium tomorrow. She has been working at the school for over three and a half years, and did a year and some months another time before this. So, we were having special events for her.
However, this week we did get to work on the Jamaican timeline sewing project in hopes of finishing it in time for graduation. That didn't happen but there was a whole lot of self-expression going on. We were writing speeches to deliver, songs to sing, practicing our walk for the fashion show portion of the event.
One big problem we're facing with the book, is that many of their stories contain information that we can't print. Not because we want to censor them, but because there is a big stigma in Trench Town, and most of Jamaica, about being an "informant." You could include no one's names but describe a specific illegal event, and you may still be labeled an informant. Since that label could mean your life we have to tread very carefully......More to come. Thanks for you support!
Annie Kopena
Friday, June 27, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Update
I just wanted to let you all know that a fantastic story has come from the rough draft of the journal yesterday, and it will definitely be featured in the book!!!! This is also a great achievement, because the story is translated into standard english, and were the language couldn't be fully switch, it's been explained, giving a richer reading experience I think. Even though we're remaining anonymous, I really want to applaud that young man's efforts today and yesterday to express himself.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Guns Out This Morning Rough Draft
The following is the first of our journal series from students at Operation Restoration. While in the future they'll be more final, this is simply a rough draft written today during an exercise. Names of the students will not be mentioned for safety. Questions can be left in comments. Much of it is in patois, or refers to specific local vocabulary, but this is a genuine journal, and I think you'll get the general vibe.
Stay tuned for more in the future too, and make sure you look for more daily details on my blog! (Link on right side).
Love,
Annie Kopena
Topic: Guns out this morning
One night, a Wednesday night, we hear some shots start fire in my yard, and we wake up in the morning, and hear that Tunsy dead. Big man come up into the scheme and say the killer is there. Then them start walk and search in people, two girl have gun, and them son them have some baton iron and say they gonna beat killers. However, in the evening again, big shot start fire, because them switch side, side get mixed up.
You have Angola, Brooklyn, Jungle Top, Texas, and Havanna.* Whole of them side there, deh pon one side against Jonestown, Mexico, two more I can’t remember. So the war kick off (2005). Hear gun shot morning noon and night. Then the side of Jungle Top, come in Brooklyn and steal two girls, and a son. Brooklyn and Jungle not friend again, they start war them warring.
Next night again gunshot a fire, a man from Angola start fire shot off at Brooklyn. So the war kick off between Brooklyn and Angola. War broke down Brooklyn a war with Angola now. Hottest war me ever see. Men wrap up them face like ninja, and go down and slap shot. Men walk like police, and slap shot in party. Until a time you hear man a come, they say they run come up in Brooklyn party and start fire big shot. Two men come round one have a 12 gauge and one have a rifle, come from Brooklyn you know. The start wet it. Angola men say they send the heat pon them, and then run out back. Gone back in them scheme. And after two weeks time they call Omar Davis, and Omar Davis and bring real Babylon, the polic. They start make peace. Then Brooklyn men say "Wha ya do make peace, after you start it, come out of we terra terra clot** scheme cause onnu start it." But then, after that peace come. The war cease now. So every body live happier now. A lot of talking me hear go round though, so I don’t know how long the peace will last. Whenever they say peace, within a year time another war start. Some of them wait till school lock, summer time, and start up again.
*neighborhoods/gangs
**stream of (strong) vulgarities
Stay tuned for more in the future too, and make sure you look for more daily details on my blog! (Link on right side).
Love,
Annie Kopena
Topic: Guns out this morning
One night, a Wednesday night, we hear some shots start fire in my yard, and we wake up in the morning, and hear that Tunsy dead. Big man come up into the scheme and say the killer is there. Then them start walk and search in people, two girl have gun, and them son them have some baton iron and say they gonna beat killers. However, in the evening again, big shot start fire, because them switch side, side get mixed up.
You have Angola, Brooklyn, Jungle Top, Texas, and Havanna.* Whole of them side there, deh pon one side against Jonestown, Mexico, two more I can’t remember. So the war kick off (2005). Hear gun shot morning noon and night. Then the side of Jungle Top, come in Brooklyn and steal two girls, and a son. Brooklyn and Jungle not friend again, they start war them warring.
Next night again gunshot a fire, a man from Angola start fire shot off at Brooklyn. So the war kick off between Brooklyn and Angola. War broke down Brooklyn a war with Angola now. Hottest war me ever see. Men wrap up them face like ninja, and go down and slap shot. Men walk like police, and slap shot in party. Until a time you hear man a come, they say they run come up in Brooklyn party and start fire big shot. Two men come round one have a 12 gauge and one have a rifle, come from Brooklyn you know. The start wet it. Angola men say they send the heat pon them, and then run out back. Gone back in them scheme. And after two weeks time they call Omar Davis, and Omar Davis and bring real Babylon, the polic. They start make peace. Then Brooklyn men say "Wha ya do make peace, after you start it, come out of we terra terra clot** scheme cause onnu start it." But then, after that peace come. The war cease now. So every body live happier now. A lot of talking me hear go round though, so I don’t know how long the peace will last. Whenever they say peace, within a year time another war start. Some of them wait till school lock, summer time, and start up again.
*neighborhoods/gangs
**stream of (strong) vulgarities
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Whoop Whoop!
Dear friends,
So this is a LONG overdue update. Thank you to those that have supported us. Big shout out to my political science class, who gave a great deal of time and money to help out with this project. Even more shout outs to lots of people from the Circle of Hope community, friends, and family.
We know have six digital cameras, rechargeable batteries and chargers, art supplies, and pray support. Thank you all.
Tomorrow is the big day! The students will be beginning the process of thinking and creating tomorrow morning!!!!!!!! So soon they'll be regular posts from them!!!! Check out my blog if you want more juicy details!
Blessings,
Annie Kopena
So this is a LONG overdue update. Thank you to those that have supported us. Big shout out to my political science class, who gave a great deal of time and money to help out with this project. Even more shout outs to lots of people from the Circle of Hope community, friends, and family.
We know have six digital cameras, rechargeable batteries and chargers, art supplies, and pray support. Thank you all.
Tomorrow is the big day! The students will be beginning the process of thinking and creating tomorrow morning!!!!!!!! So soon they'll be regular posts from them!!!! Check out my blog if you want more juicy details!
Blessings,
Annie Kopena
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