Jaden Yich Nou
Jaden Yich Nou is an educational garden conceived with and for children. It's a lab-garden, a space for experimentation where children have the opportunity to imagine their own ancestral practices of tomorrow. It's a "jadenstalasyon", a garden-sized artistic installation, inhabited by the magic of artistic creations and eco-responsible works of art. It's a “jaden razyé”; a garden that recaptures the spirit and aesthetic freedom of the Caribbean vernacular garden, while applying the principles of permaculture.
Seeds
The theme of the school year 2023-2024 was seeds. Over several months, students discovered and revitalized an unused space behind their school, transforming it into a vibrant garden - the "Jaden Yich Nou". By observing the land's contours and existing flora, they actively contributed to the garden's creation and upkeep, engaging in planting and watering activities throughout the whole year. This hands-on learning in the garden was further extended and enriched by a workshop series that focused on the interconnectedness of cultural, and artistic expressions of everyday with the connection to and experiences in nature, nurtured by spending time in the garden with the students.
For the series the three artists Françoise Dô, Yémendja Abatuci, and Christel Symphor were invited to work with the students on storytelling, sound production, music and dance.
The results of the workshop series were shared with the all students of the Clémence Caristan elementary and primary school. Each workshop’s outcomes were displayed, showcasing the collective learning experiences in the garden and the multiple creations of music, dance, storytelling, and recording.
The presentation not only highlighted the artistic works of the students, but also aimed to familiarize new students with the program’s activities, setting the stage for their involvement in Jaden Yich Nou in the coming cycles.