Looking back and forward

2008 has been an extraordinary year with 100 Words activity on both sides of the globe. As well as delivering work in schools in both the UK and China, the CHINA NOW 100 Words Schools Competition brought linked schools together virtually. The film we made during the winners’ week, when students and teachers from four British and Chinese schools came together, has just been completed and captures how our project can be a catalyst for intercultural dialogue. We’ve just had the students’ feedback translated – ‘energetic’, ‘fun’, ‘exciting’, ‘excellent’, ‘unforgettable’ and ‘inspirational’ are some of the words used to describe their experience. Other highlights include bringing two artists from Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre over to Theatre503 in London, working with Beijing Dramatists Association at Theatre 9 at the same time as the National Youth Theatre’s first visit to China and being part of the British Council’s Young Advocates Programme International Youth Forum during the Paralympic Games in Beijing. The latter showed how 100 Words can be used to raise awareness and we’ll be exploring the potential of this further in 2009.