Start Date
6-6-2013 3:10 PM
End Date
6-6-2013 4:40 PM
Description
The power of art is undeniable. Art can heal the human spirit; art can shed light on a willing mind; and it can help individuals express the inexpressible, discover the unknown, and create inspiration and hope. The question framed in this paper is: How can the seeds for artistic growth be sown, and what value can it have for society at large? Chinese culture extols the virtue of diligence, and students are praised for high academic performance. However, many promising Chinese students lose interest in applying creativity at school when test scores become the only measurement for their success. As China continues to rise steadily to a prominent role in global affairs, many of its youth will become leaders of tomorrow. As the following paper will explain, the arts can play a vital role in transforming these youth into dynamic, self-expressive individuals. Since 2010, I have led Duke University’s DukeEngage program “Empowerment Through Arts”, a two-month service-learning program located at Zhuhai No. 9 Middle School in Zhuhai, China. The program’s mission is to foster opportunities for growth through the arts, nurturing new generations of capable young people who will be the leaders and thinkers of the 21st century. Using an integrative curriculum, Duke students open the minds of young Chinese students by teaching English through a range of art-forms such as drawing, acting, singing and dancing—embedding leadership, self-confidence, and self-expression. Through these activities, students are encouraged to see school as a place where they begin their life-long journeys; where they can expand their boundaries and have the opportunity of a lifetime to engage in new experiences. As facilitators, Duke students gain an equally valuable skillset: how to understand, respect, and work with people and institutions from very different cultural backgrounds. Teaching provides opportunities to continually test and verify new ideas, while daily interactions with Chinese students, teachers and host families provide insights on evaluating their own lives and preparing for life after graduation. As a service-learning model, “Empowerment Through Arts” offers a transformative approach to bridging global cultures by creating a platform for artistic as well as personal growth.
Recommended Citation
Ku, H. M. (2013, June). Empowerment through arts. Paper presented at the 4th Asia-Pacific Regional Conference on Service-Learning: Service-Learning as a Bridge from Local to Global: Connected world, Connected future, Hong Kong and Guangzhou, China.
Included in
Empowerment through arts
The power of art is undeniable. Art can heal the human spirit; art can shed light on a willing mind; and it can help individuals express the inexpressible, discover the unknown, and create inspiration and hope. The question framed in this paper is: How can the seeds for artistic growth be sown, and what value can it have for society at large? Chinese culture extols the virtue of diligence, and students are praised for high academic performance. However, many promising Chinese students lose interest in applying creativity at school when test scores become the only measurement for their success. As China continues to rise steadily to a prominent role in global affairs, many of its youth will become leaders of tomorrow. As the following paper will explain, the arts can play a vital role in transforming these youth into dynamic, self-expressive individuals. Since 2010, I have led Duke University’s DukeEngage program “Empowerment Through Arts”, a two-month service-learning program located at Zhuhai No. 9 Middle School in Zhuhai, China. The program’s mission is to foster opportunities for growth through the arts, nurturing new generations of capable young people who will be the leaders and thinkers of the 21st century. Using an integrative curriculum, Duke students open the minds of young Chinese students by teaching English through a range of art-forms such as drawing, acting, singing and dancing—embedding leadership, self-confidence, and self-expression. Through these activities, students are encouraged to see school as a place where they begin their life-long journeys; where they can expand their boundaries and have the opportunity of a lifetime to engage in new experiences. As facilitators, Duke students gain an equally valuable skillset: how to understand, respect, and work with people and institutions from very different cultural backgrounds. Teaching provides opportunities to continually test and verify new ideas, while daily interactions with Chinese students, teachers and host families provide insights on evaluating their own lives and preparing for life after graduation. As a service-learning model, “Empowerment Through Arts” offers a transformative approach to bridging global cultures by creating a platform for artistic as well as personal growth.