Selection

The selection. We started to search for the participants of the programme at two places. The first institution where we got to with the help of Can Xalant was a foundation in Cerdanyola that deals with children. Most of them are coming from immigrant families, living in poor conditions. Practically, we did not succeed here at start, and as we fount visit to our next “enlistment” place more successful, we did not return to the foundation.

We found our participants in a school, the high school called IES Pla d’en Boet. (About the conditions of the selection see the procedure analysis later.) Finally we announced that the program will start in Can Xalant at 17.00 on Wednesday.

(9 May, Wednesday) Finally, there were about 30 children. We introduced our plans, and told about some projects Katalin made in cooperation with other young people or artists. We handed out the guides, and a questionnaire that children filled in. After that we made a portrait of each of them.

Some children copped out because of the fear they have to perform, and the “big girls” took over, which has also discouraged the young ones. Those, who could speak English were enjoying their privileged communications position, their interpreting role. Many kids came with their friends, for them joining the project was an opportunity for common entertainment, the “lonely” ones could not take part in it. After the meeting we chose 13 children on the grounds of the photos, questionnaires and our impressions. The very small ones (13-year-olds) were left out. It was interesting, that mainly those kids returned the next day to the “announcement of results”, who we have chosen, the others lost interest. This shows, that the group - although we selected the members – was formed more organically, at the first meeting: personal motivations (to creative work, socializing, and communicating), and group dynamics could emerge.