Partnerships Creative Writing project by Wanjiku Nyachae and Michael Dempsey

Amy - ForwardWho would have thought that a chance remark made by Allison Rogers on the VC team, a couple of years ago would have resulted in this?
We have come a long way from her suggestion of a 'virtual' author in residence; passing through a drawn out bid writing process to the Gulbenkian Foundation and the challenge of finding an appropriate author to fit in with our very individual approach to teaching and learning to the complicated process of juggling tutor and student timetables to make sure that everyone had an opportunity to participate in the project.
It was hard to imagine what our 'Gulbenkian project' as we have called it, was going to look, feel, sound, taste and smell like. Here it is, the culmination of the last three months' group work from the Virtual College.
A mixed bag, a 'rattle bag', a bag of treasures that reflects the very different thoughts and emotions of our students and tutors alike, led by the inspiring, thought provoking, challenging, golden hearted Wanjiku Nyachae, our author in residence.
But this is just a sample of the very significant outcomes of this project. Many of these are just not quantifiable.
Here are a few examples:
Eight students sitting around a table, listening enthralled to one another's flash fiction.
Students writing sonnets inspired by Shakespeare.
Students travelling independently for the first time to get to the writing workshops.
A student sharing ideas in a group for the first time.
The realisation that our tutors are all creative writers as well as teachers.
Remember as you watch this DVD that this is just sample of the treasures that have blossomed from this project. Enjoy.

Thank you everyone for making this project so successful.

Amy Wallis.

Jenni's Forward here