The director of the municipal school of Escanaffles, Stéphane Delhaye, has initiated a project aimed at fostering a love for reading, writing, and storytelling among children. This initiative follows the return of the Cirque Rubis to the school, providing a concrete theme for creation.
Photographer Claire Veys is working with the students to teach them the basics of photography. She has observed the children's creativity, with some already showing a photographer's eye and enjoying handling photographic equipment, even older models. The young participants have captured the performance, taking hundreds of shots.
Stéphane Delhaye emphasizes the value of this experience for the children's future lives. The school prioritizes reading and book creation. Following the setup of a library, the goal is for children to design a book from scratch.
Tournai-based poet Françoise Lison-Leroy guides the students in creating a photo novel, using the pictures taken by the children. For the younger students (first and second primary), the project takes the form of a fairy tale, also in collaboration with Françoise Lison-Leroy.
This project, despite being financially demanding, is considered crucial for the children's development. Poetic writing is encouraged, as children are seen as more free and less confined than adults in their imagination. The underlying idea is that a child who writes will always be a better reader.
The publication of the books is planned before the end of the school year, allowing the children to take home their own creations. The project involves students from P3 to P6 for the photo novel and those in first and second primary for the fairy tale.
