……And with that, the 2025 season has begun!

Last year was epic. We started our pilgrim's journey from the genesis of what we all know now as the Kasere Foundation. It was a tough journey, but we are proud to acknowledge that we are beyond that phase. We have detailed narrations on our 2024 experience in the newsletters from last year, so moving on….(pssst, get the 2024 tea in previous posts! You are welcome!)

Aside from the hardships that laced last year's moments, we had many victories. One victory we hold dear is the victory of finding our very own tribe: the kids of the Samfra Academy. With time, you'll get to meet them, as we have a series of events that will spotlight each child and highlight their core strengths.

The great news is we are back! And ready for a new session with our amazing kids. The turnout on Saturday was great. First, we reunited with the team—our volunteers, facilitators, staff, and ad-hoc members. It was an intimate exchange of hugs, pleasantries, and love, and the day began in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

We went straight to business with a music session facilitated by Folu, our music director. Folu taught the kids different music keys. I’ll highlight the ones that rang a bell: A Major, B Major, C, D, E, and all the way to G. Our kids have always been super absorbent of knowledge, so they grasped this without difficulty, even going as far as practicing the knowledge on the keyboard.

We moved from familiarizing ourselves with the keyboard to getting familiar with stage geography. Shina, our art director, taught us the geography of a stage. Let me teach you a bit about it:

Stage Geography Diagram

1. Centerstage center: the middle of the stage area

2. Downstage center: the area closest to the audience

3. Upstage center: the area farthest from the audience

4. Right stage center: the area to your RIGHT when facing the stage

With these few explanations, we are sure that the next time you attend a stage play, you'll be able to identify all the points of the stage and know where the actors are positioned.

The next order of the day was a dry run of the play! Exciting, right? We are not going to spill all the tea on our upcoming play, but we have our first annual play planned for the fourth quarter of the year, and the plan is for it to be epic! The kids are already prepping for the big day. What do they say about early birds and worms? We are starting early, and our early birds are clamoring to get the early worms.

We attained a higher altitude with lessons on stage ethics and etiquette. It never crossed my mind until that moment that stage actors had to adhere to strict rules. Our kids are going to rank high on professionalism, so here goes our cute little list:

1. Safety First: Prioritize physical and emotional well-being during productions

2. Guardian Involvement: Ensure parent/guardian supervision and consent

3. Education Balance: Maintain academic commitments alongside acting responsibilities

4. Respectful Collaboration: Treat cast, crew, and directors with age-appropriate professionalism

5. Emotional Boundaries: Learn to manage performance stress and maintain healthy interactions

6. Consent and Comfort: Communicate openly about scenes or situations that feel uncomfortable

7. Continuous Learning: Approach each role as an opportunity for growth and skill development

The day concluded with musical bliss as Folu performed for our team—volunteers, co-facilitators, Founder Mfon, and Program Coordinator Grace. The room came alive with dancing and singing, embodying our club's spirit: "Let's Play!

See you soon guys!

With Love,

Ehi-Sulaiman Miriam