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On Saturday, September 27, 2014 Telem Center for the African Child joined Citizens Committee for New York City on the High Line to get people thinking about why Oral History is important, exciting and accessible to anyone who wants to do their own oral history project. Here is a taste of what went down!

What is an Oral History? Oral history is the collecting of stories and narratives from individuals in order to preserve voices, experiences, and history. 

Want to learn how to produce your own oral history? Here are some "how to" docs:

     1. Oral History Guide      2. Oral History Project Planning      3. Oral History Interview Tips

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"I want to attend Telem Camp 2012" Essay - Eno, 15

           I want to attend Telem Camp 2012 because I want to meet other young adults of African descent and learn from them about their culture.  I also want to learn how to develop my team work and leadership skills.  I also enjoy activities outdoors and want to learn more about nature because I adore nature and its resources.  Because my school schedule can be very intense, I do not usually get the time to relax or have fun. Attending Telem Camp would give me a chance to relax, have fun, and get to know more about other people.

           I am really looking forward to playing and learning new games with other African kids and laughing at the jokes we all make. In doing so, I would also experience the life of growing as a young African lady. When I was back in Ghana, I didn’t have the chance to travel around our continent and when I came to America at the age of twelve, I still haven’t had the opportunity to travel around to see the lives of people in other countries, especially in Africa.

            Attending Telem Camp would be just like traveling around the globe since I get to meet new people from all over Africa where I am from.  I am willing to learn more about the people of Africa and about their ethnicities and life styles.

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“Proudly African, Truly International” Essay - Temitayo, 16

           Oftentimes the most widely propagated “truth” about someone, or something, can quickly become its only face. This is truly the case for Africa.  To the outside world, the mere mention of the continent conjures up images of emaciated children and perpetual civil war. Indeed, these atrocities are happening in Africa, but the problem arises when this is the extent of your learning on such a vast continent, and when this leads to a diminished expectation on anything or anyone who stems from there.

           Throughout the years, my anger at the ignorance and condescension that is acutely present in many of the questions posed to me (You’re Nigerian? So have you ever flayed an elephant?) has quelled to a point of pity. Pity for their naivety and pity for their unwillingness to expand their narrow minded view of the world. I’m not sure if I wouldn’t have been the same had I been raised second generation Nigerian in America.  Being “Proudly African, Truly International” to me means being able to view the world in more ways than one. Even though I was born in America, I’m able to straddle both cultures, American and Nigerian, and come away with a rich appreciation for both.

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"I want to attend Telem Camp 2012" Essay - Papa, 8

           I want to attend Telem Camp 2012 because I want to know more about my culture and have fun with my African friends.  I want to celebrate my heritage also.  My favorite activities are sports and swimming. I think Telem camp is a good way to exchange experiences among African kids.  I will also like to learn more about my tradition.  I know that Telem camp teaches kids African childhood games and storytelling activities and I can’t wait to enjoy it.

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“Proudly African, Truly International” Essay - Isata, 8

           Being Proudly African yet truly international means when you’re an African you have to have pride.  Like when my family sings African songs, it makes me feel warm and proud of where I’m from.  When I wear African clothes it makes me feel heartwarming.  Every time I eat fufu, chakari and rice and plasas. That’s why I like being African.

            I don’t care what people say to me about who I am. If I like who I am then it doesn’t matter who hates on me. I speak, walk and dress with confidence and that’s kind of what being an African is about.  Being African is my thing. I eat fufu and I eat rice. 

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Do you know how to Azonto? On Saturday March 17th, as part of Telem's cultural events programming, Telem youth, board members, supporters and new friends met up in Harlem to learn how to Azonto, a dance style originating in Ghana.