Healthy Living
“Our Voices” art exhibition: A stepping stone to lifelong learning
23 April 2021 - by YMCA of Greater Toronto
They say art is not a destination, it’s a journey. From finding what’s within to conveying what can’t be easily expressed in words. It’s an amalgamation of what lies within the heart and soul of an artist.
“Our Voices” is a virtual art gallery exhibition of that amalgamation, curated by a passionate group of five budding future leaders in the child care sector. Sarah Bunsee, Fiona Kwan, Antara Labiba, Yussra Sherally and Anusha Virdi are the students in George Brown College’s Early Childhood Education program who mounted this digital exhibition. Their unconventional form of art captures the unheard, unexpressed, raw and fearless voices of future educators in one of the most multicultural cities of the world.
The gallery link takes you on a 360-degree virtual tour, giving you a feeling of exploring a live art gallery. Art pieces hang on a virtual wall, giving you a gallery experience from the comfort of your home. As you “walk” through the gallery, you will find a ‘Team Wall’ with more information about the ideas and voices of this passionate group’s team members.
The inspiration behind “Our Voices”
“We started to recognize the challenges Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) are facing today,” says Labiba, “and thought of how can we bring these challenges to people’s attention unlike the conventional way of representing them through numbers and pages and pages of words.”
Major Challenges faced by Early Childhood Education sector today
In an industry that is deemed important, operating on the front-lines, even during a global pandemic like today, recognition seems lacking. Kwan says, “Sometimes there is a sense of not being recognized and of feeling under-valued. This is, despite the fact that ECEs are trained professionals who are contributing to the well-being and development of a precious and important individual who will be part of the next generation.”
A foundation for life-long learning
This online exhibition aims to provide the foundation for life-long learning supporting future ECE graduates in their pursuit of continuous learning for generations to come. Bunsee quotes a block from ‘How does learning happen?’, a Ministry of Education’s resource to explain the exhibition’s goal: “Provide ongoing opportunities for educators to engage in critical reflection and discussion with others about pedagogy and practice to support continuous professional learning and growth.”
Placement experience at YMCA
Sherally shares how her experience as a placement student at Toronto Pinnacle YMCA Child Care Centre helped shape her approach towards the early childhood sector. “YMCA values of inclusivity have encouraged us to acknowledge the meaningfulness of inclusion, as well as it’s role in establishing an equitable and transformative leaning environment where every child’s unique individuality, capabilities and characteristics are valued and recognized.”
Sherally highlights the YMCA of Greater Toronto’s goal of, “Creating welcoming places and programs where everyone feels they belong.”
Each art piece tells its unique story
Virdi shares her perception of how everyone has their own story, message, and inspiration behind their art that is beyond explanation through words. “We feel that all the art pieces shared are unique and close to our hearts as they all retell their own stories,” adds Virdi.
The online virtual gallery exhibition “Our Voices” is now live for you to enjoy. Find it here .
“Our Voices” is a virtual art gallery exhibition of that amalgamation, curated by a passionate group of five budding future leaders in the child care sector. Sarah Bunsee, Fiona Kwan, Antara Labiba, Yussra Sherally and Anusha Virdi are the students in George Brown College’s Early Childhood Education program who mounted this digital exhibition. Their unconventional form of art captures the unheard, unexpressed, raw and fearless voices of future educators in one of the most multicultural cities of the world.
The gallery link takes you on a 360-degree virtual tour, giving you a feeling of exploring a live art gallery. Art pieces hang on a virtual wall, giving you a gallery experience from the comfort of your home. As you “walk” through the gallery, you will find a ‘Team Wall’ with more information about the ideas and voices of this passionate group’s team members.
The inspiration behind “Our Voices”
“We started to recognize the challenges Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) are facing today,” says Labiba, “and thought of how can we bring these challenges to people’s attention unlike the conventional way of representing them through numbers and pages and pages of words.”
Major Challenges faced by Early Childhood Education sector today
In an industry that is deemed important, operating on the front-lines, even during a global pandemic like today, recognition seems lacking. Kwan says, “Sometimes there is a sense of not being recognized and of feeling under-valued. This is, despite the fact that ECEs are trained professionals who are contributing to the well-being and development of a precious and important individual who will be part of the next generation.”
A foundation for life-long learning
This online exhibition aims to provide the foundation for life-long learning supporting future ECE graduates in their pursuit of continuous learning for generations to come. Bunsee quotes a block from ‘How does learning happen?’, a Ministry of Education’s resource to explain the exhibition’s goal: “Provide ongoing opportunities for educators to engage in critical reflection and discussion with others about pedagogy and practice to support continuous professional learning and growth.”
Placement experience at YMCA
Sherally shares how her experience as a placement student at Toronto Pinnacle YMCA Child Care Centre helped shape her approach towards the early childhood sector. “YMCA values of inclusivity have encouraged us to acknowledge the meaningfulness of inclusion, as well as it’s role in establishing an equitable and transformative leaning environment where every child’s unique individuality, capabilities and characteristics are valued and recognized.”
Sherally highlights the YMCA of Greater Toronto’s goal of, “Creating welcoming places and programs where everyone feels they belong.”
Each art piece tells its unique story
Virdi shares her perception of how everyone has their own story, message, and inspiration behind their art that is beyond explanation through words. “We feel that all the art pieces shared are unique and close to our hearts as they all retell their own stories,” adds Virdi.
The online virtual gallery exhibition “Our Voices” is now live for you to enjoy. Find it here .
