Published on February 21, 2018 by Ashley Smith  
meeting the children

In January 2018, a small group of Theatre, Theatre for Youth and Education students traveled with two advisors to Jakarta, Indonesia to be hosted by the Pelita Harapan Yayasan.  This is a network of Christian schools and universities President Andrew Westmoreland and his wife Dr. Jeanna Westmoreland have been associated with for over twenty years.  This organization is made up of energetic Christians, who use education and health care to meet the needs of their country.

According to Laura Byland, director of the theatre for youth program, “As theatre artists we were seeking the intersection of faith and art as we worked with Samford education majors to bring creative storytelling to life and support English as a Second Language (ESL) in the classroom.  This cross-cultural art experience afforded the Samford theatre students the opportunity to present seven performances in a variety of chapel services at several schools. Theatre students assisted the education majors with ESL activities and engaged with village children in active drama game playing.” 

The participants recently gathered at Samford to share their experience and both students and Dr. Jeanna Westmoreland commented on the missional impact of the trip.  Westmoreland explained, “This trip began as a cross-cultural academic opportunity but the missional aspect rose to the top through our outreach.”    The community embraced the Samford team and in turn, the students found the interaction with Indonesians incredibly rewarding.  The performances were so well-received that the schools wanted to initiate drama programs within their curriculum. 

Outreach is an important component of the theatre for youth program. Students work with local schools and agencies throughout the year providing hands-on experience.  From the Emma Taylor Theatre for Youth production that invites area agencies to a FirstNight preview event to helping with the Christmas pageant at Unless U, a local program assisting adults with disabilities, Theatre for Youth students share their talents and demonstrate the power of drama and storytelling. 

 

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.