Recent Media

What Town Say

Read feedback and reviews of Idakeda's work:

Culture and the Arts in Caribbeana Training for Library Staff

Participant comments:

• The facilitators are well informed and talented at what they do. They projected the message in such a way any and everyone could understand and relate to it; I believe this workshop has opened my eyes to how much work has to be done on my part in my role as a future librarian. Vicky Ramanan
• Extremely professional in presentation; highly effective in delivering information. I enjoyed the sense of humour used and the easy going and friendly nature of both facilitators.
•  A completely enjoyable workshop with a lot of food for thought
• The facilitator encouraged participation by sharing her stories and asking questions. Her anecdotes were greatly appreciated
• Should consider having a workshop for curriculum officers
• The content was relevant to the core purpose or objective. It gave a sense of self and space and the importance of knowing Caribbean literature for oneself and profession
• Very good. Excellent presentation of materials. Azard Mohammed
• This workshop has higlighted the importance of local products and books that need to be in our schools. Caron Franco
  

Culture & Education Training, Primary School Teachers - March 2010

Participant comments:

• Excellent! Very informative and helpful to classroom teaching ... Every class should benefit from this experience. Antoinette Paul-Fitzpatrick
  
• I loved the use of time management ... All materials were readily available to prepare us for what was going to be delivered.
• This workshop should be exposed to teachers in the Training College
• Facilitators were well prepared with respect to the relevant topics. Activities were suitable for the different levels at the various schools ... I recommend that this workshop be done with all the schools in Trinidad and Tobago.
• Should be longer than two day. Can't wait to try out what I have learnt. Natasha Bacchus 
• Excellent and Real.
• Positive for school curriculum.
• Very interactive sessions; helped to remind us of how the students feel.
• Storytelling should be done in the whole school. This programme should be don in Teacher's College for all teachers.
• Very relevant to today's society.
  

Ai Bonjay, Primary School Storytelling Initiative

Comments from Principals and Teachers, Term 1, September-December 2009

I am certain that the Arts, Culture and Education are in good hands. I carefully observed pupils totally absorbed into the story telling lesson... I am looking forward to the next session.

 Ian Jackson

Teacher

Bethlehem Boys RC

The session was interesting as it exposed the children to folklore storytelling. However, in order for the interest to be there, these sessions must continue. There should be at least two sessions per month.

Teacher

Excel Composite Primary

Students were attentive, entertained and informed about their cultural heritage ... Programme was professionally conducted, therefore exercise was educational.

Teacher

St. Philip's Government Primary

The session was informative to the children as well as me. I found it to be entertaining and the children had fun while learning. I also thought that the session was interesting. I am sure that the children can't wait for more of these wonderful sessions.

Alicia Seecharan

Teacher

Nelson Street Girls R.C

This presentation was very effective. Using the instruments was an attraction for the boys. The programme should be done weekly per term for ALL the school students.

Sherry Ann Celestine

Principal

Bethlehem Boys RC

Pupils ... learnt a lot about their history and culture. They were able to identify and connect with the drumming. Values and lessons were learnt and facilitators were very knowledgeable and competent in delivery.

Gillian Timothy

Teacher

Bethlehem Girls RC

Facilitators were excellent and presentations were quite effective - children's attention was rapt throughout.

Jennifer Mc Collin

Teacher

Piccadilly Government Primary

The facilitators captivated the attention of the students. The lesson was well structured and pupils were given many opportunities to reinforce what was being presented or taught.

Michelle Henry

Teacher

Bethlehem Boys RC

Very interactive; because there was a male representative on drums, the boys participated and enjoyed all the stories and songs.

Rhonda Lewis

Teacher

St. Philips Government Primary

The workshop presenters were able to deliver an integrated approach to Social Studies, blending role play and history. Students were allowed to interact fully throughout the workshop and ... emphasis was placed on fostering a sense of pride in the students themselves and in their history ...

Teacher

Piccadilly Government Primary

Lesson was conducted well. A lot of interaction occurred; students were entertained and attentive. Both boys and girls enjoyed singing, dancing and content of lesson.

Teacher

St. Philip's Government Primary

San Fernando East Secondary

IDAKEDA WORKSHOPS AND INTERVENTIONS, 2009

Student Comments

"I think that it was very inspiring and it had me thinking what to do before I think about boys and children."

Asha Cooper

"I found it very uplifiting and inspiring. It helped me to make wise decisions in my life, words and actions."

Kadija Codrington

"I think it was fun and I learn womanly things."

Olivia Achong

"I think it was wonderful. We learnt many thing."

Tamera Smith

Teacher Comments

"This was a very enlightening and excellent programme conducted for both teachers and students. The discussion ensured a self esteem upliftment and the dance was classy."

Mrs. Alicia Marcano

"The session with Idakeda was intense and effectively drove home the message and purpose of the retreat. The entire session was a powerful one and I am indeed very grateful to Ms. Pearl Eintou Springer and her daughter Dara for their labour of love and their genuine concern for young women."

Ann-Marie R. Hamilton-Noel

"This was a novel type of intervention. I appreciated the interactive elements and the other elements tat allowed the students to be pensive and introspective. As a black woman the content made me feel very empowered and it concretised my purpose in this profession. Ms. Springer and her daughter Dara are excellent role models."

Siobhan George

Morvant Laventille Secondary

IDAKEDA WORKSHOPS AND INTERVENTIONS, 2009

"In the first term they primarily engaged the Form Two (2) year group. This exercise was such a success that it was decided to continue their activities with the Form Three (3) year group... The strategies they embrace have proven to be effective and relevant for the difficult circumstances that the students and the staff find themselves working in."

Ronald Sanchez, Principal

Russel Latapy Secondary

IDAKEDA WORKSHOPS AND INTERVENTIONS, 2009

"The group has been having a positive impact on the students who are participating. Since its inception (the Idakeda programmes) it has been observed that the students are gradually "opening up" and responding more positively to the techniques of the facilitators. Ther is an improvement with the discipline and sense of self worth and an eagerness to participate in the workshop."

T. Bhaggan, Principal

Malick Secondary Comprehensive

 IDAKEDA WORKSHOPS AND INTERVENTIONS, 2008

"The presentation was specifically designed to hold the students' interest. The discussion thereafter provided a perfect balance with respect to ensuring that the program was not merely entertaining, bu that the lesson intended to be taught would be conveyed effectively."

Desilia Langaigne, Spanish Teacher

Kent State University :

Dear Miss Springer,
I really enjoyed your workshop. I was not expecting to learn as much as I did. I expected you to come and read us some poetry, but you did a lot more than that. Besides introducing our class to your amazing work you also taught us how to use it to teach. I am an integrated social studies major and I hope to teach world history. I am always interested in learning about the history and people of other cultures, especially those who are often misrepresented. Everything you taught us went along with this. I hope to be able to teach the many perspectives of what history is in my classroom and also teach what the true history is to the people who lived it.

You also showed us amazing ways to teach history through art, which is something I am interested in doing and something I am currently researching. I am always looking for new ideas and new media to integrate into my lessons and you have shown me some. Your workshop was amazing and I got a lot out of it. I hope you return to Kent in the future so that I will be able to see your work again.

Thank you,
Sarah Norman

Dear Miss. Springer,
I thought this experience was awsome! I loved the skit by her daughter and it really anwsered my queston... how do I relate drama to health education. I thought she was a very good actress and it definitely would keep my future students attention. It was fun to get to know Miss Springer more on a personal level at dinner. Learning about her culture and the food choices that are popular in Trinadad. I liked how she mentioned that she believed that students need to know and keep their own culture, to not turn into the melting pot that society breeds us to be. That was very inspirational to me. I didn't think the presentation would be so interactive, but I was mistaken. I learned how important it is to verbalize words and speak loudly to get your messages across. Thank you Miss Springer for your time and I wish you well in everything you do!

Melissa Hoover

CHELSEY MARIE RITCHEY <cpeyton@kent.edu> wrote:
Dear Miss Springer,
Thank you very much for taking some time to share with our class during your visit at Kent State. I enjoyed the drama presentation by you and your daughter. I enjoyed most of all hearing about your family, and your story. I like to hear peoples story. I find myself
constantly asking my peers about their families and lives. I can only pray to some day have the attitude and drive that you have.


Stephen <stephenbedeau@bellsouth.net> wrote:
Congrats on the great work of promotion and presentation. It’s Great to see Eintou, give her all my love, she looks marvelous, seeing her brought back memories of Astor and our Queens Hall days; a golden age! She was suchaninspiration andpositive vital supporter of what we were doing. God bless her.

Thanks

Dear Ms. Springer,
The playwrights and I send you many thanks for inspiriting our class and our work.It was wonderful getting acquainted with your work and its staging.The power of your poems, your process, and your presence will be with us long after you depart.We wish you could stay. Special thanks also to your delightful daughter.
With warm regards, Marya Bednerik

thanks and thanks and thanks.

jyurksc1@kent.edu wrote:
Miss Springer's performance was excellent. I went up to her after class and had to thank her for what she had done for me. Miss Springer gave me ideas that I never thought I would have. I have begun using poetry in my class to help my students understand that
history is not what is written on paper, history is a story and what better way to tell a story that with energy and rhythm. Her performance with her daughter completely caught me off guard. I was unsure on what to expect but I am very fortunate to have experienced a performance like that one. I would like to thank Miss Springer for the impact that her ninety minute presentation had on me and hopefully I will be able to continue using her concepts and methods in my classroom for many years to come.

John Yurkschatt
(High School History)

Baby Doll :

PREYSAL HIGH SCHOOL

ARIMA SENIOR SECONDARY

1. I thought it was funny, educational and enjoyable
2. the midnight robber was right and the other two were wrong
3. I think that Baby Doll should have listened to her mother and try to make something of and for herself to become a better person in life
4. I think that baby doll should not have had sex at the young age not follow bad company

SAN JUAN SENIOR SECONDARY

1. I thought the play was fabulous because it showed young people here, how they should not behave
2. I really enjoyed the play, it was factual and true and educational, it should be known throughout the country
3. The play was very educational for students to learn about life and sexual conduct
4. The play was interesting and I must say, I have learnt something, and I will NOt follow baby doll's footstep and I will not have anyone calling me 'close pin'
5. This play showed me to wait until it's my time, and it was excellent and you should keep showing your talents to others
6. This was excellent! Please come again, we need the rest of the schools to house this experience, thanks in advance.

COMMENTS FROM BABY DOLL MEETS MIDNIGHT ROBBER

1. True creative use of our folk material, great piece of work, must be used at all cost to send the message.
2. It was fantastic the true essence of carnival was brought forward and the issues affecting young people.

GOODWOOD HIGH SCHOOL (TOBAGO)

1. I thought the play was incredible and it was the best play I had ever seen and you got a lot of advice.
2. I found the play was very very very interesting, especially baby doll and jab jab.
3. The play was a success.
4. I learn that abstinence is very good.
5. The play I saw today was short and sweet. I understand it fully, and I was clear about what the midnight robber was saying about be abstinence.
   

COUVA SECONDARY SCHOOL

1. I though it was a very good play with many valuable messages.
2. I thought the play was very educational.
3. The play was wicked sweet.
4. Dis wah ah talkin’ ‘bout.
5. It was the boss!!
6. It was informative and interesting. Thank you for enlightening us
7. Simply great.

CEDROS COMPOSITE SCHOOL

1. As a student of Cedros Composite I found the play was great, we have learnt a valuable listen.
2. I thought it was excellent and I hope to see you again.
3. It was beautiful.
4. I thought it was interesting and enjoyable.
5. It was as we say ‘supercajafajalisticespialidocious, and the poetry was off the hook.
6. Thought-provoking. The use of carnival characters effectively transmitted the messages. Definitely made an impact on the students and staff alike.