Global Citizen: CWY Alumni Testimonial : Anna Kemble, BC-INDONESIA , 1990-91
I was a youth volunteer on the Canada World Youth (CWY), BC-Indonesia youth exchange program in 1990-91. During the overseas phase of my exchange, I was particularly struck by the local practice of infant and child massage, the ease with which people moved and the emotional wellbeing of the children of the Sasak villagers that I lived with during my program. During my time in this Indonesian community, I do not remember a single child crying.
I witnessed first-hand the way new mothers carry their children, how women kept their children close to their body for most of the day, often taking their babies with them into the fields to work. Children in the village seemed to be able to repeat complex rhythms and dances, even from a very young age. The memories and my own experience of dancing in that community have stayed with me, leaving a significant imprint on my life.
During my CWY experience, I began to question the role of movement in mental, physical and social wellbeing. When I got back to Canada, I began to research various topics in the field of anthological studies concerning the role of dance and movement in shaping cultures. I later decided to further this interest and began my studies in Dance-Movement Therapy.
I am now making a film called The Moving Child, supporting the importance of movement in early childhood development. The movie draws on the latest in neuroscience and child development research, but also from the wisdom of those in the field of infant developmental movement and dance movement psychotherapy. Children in North America are not getting to move enough. They are not being engaged in dynamic movement play. The opportunities for growth potential are significant when a movement ‘diet’ is at the forefront of children’s daily experience, both at school and at home.
Many thanks to CWY for giving me the opportunity to see and understand the importance of movement and culture, an understanding I can now share with others.
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