Editor’s note: This story is part of IndyStar’s Season for Sharing initiative. To donate visit indianapolisfoundation.org/season-for-sharing.
With her background in physics, Enali Rogers thought she’d work in a laboratory after college.
Instead, on a June afternoon on Indianapolis’ northwest side, Rogers found herself leading a classroom of children as they transformed construction paper into Malaysian shadow puppets. Rogers is the education coordinator for Indy’s Global Village.
She leads and organizes the programming for the Global Explorers Program, a summer camp that helps kids learn about cultures from around the world. Rogers, who has worked at Indy’s Global Village for about 1.5 years, got her start working with children when she interned at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.
“I fell in love with informal education and using my background to help people learn about things in ways that are different from normal learning,” Rogers said. “I enjoy passing on the viewpoint that the world is a playground of curiosity. There’s so many questions we can pull from the world around us.”
The Global Explorers Program is in its fourth year and on average about seven children attend each week. The camp runs for six weeks during June and July and includes busy days that focus on a different region of the world.
The kids do hands-on projects and sessions with local artists to connect culture with subjects like science, math and history. The program also includes culturally themed meals and cooking experiences for older participants. The camp is for children ages 8 to 13 years old.
On June 18, the camp focused on cultures in Asia. The kids started the day with a tour around Indy’s Global Village museum then learned about henna and Indian dances, and for lunch they ate from local restaurants with sushi and Vietnamese food options.
In the afternoon, the campers sat in a small classroom with postcards from around the world on the wall and used scissors to cut out Malaysian shadow puppets.
“We’re letting the kids kind of take their own creative liberties and make their own stories,” Rogers said of the shadow puppets activity. “I always try to bring my STEM background into it. I will talk about what is a shadow, what is light and those types of things.”
Rogers said the Global Explorers Program is valuable to its participants in many different ways.
“You come in contact with so many different types of people,” Rogers said. “Being able to give yourself grace and give other people grace too comes from having these types of experiences.”
What is your organization’s mission?
The mission of Indy’s Global Village is to help people connect with cultures, celebrate cultures and explore cultures, including their own culture.
How many people do you serve?
About 40 kids participate in the Global Explorers Program during the six-week camp.
What is your organization’s No. 1 need?
Funding is Indy’s Global Village’s top need. The funding goes toward operational costs of running programs as well as paying staffers.
How can people get involved?
People can donate to or volunteer at Indy’s Global Village. The organization needs volunteers for putting together educational programs as well as organizing items, researching and tear down and set up for events.
About Indy’s Global Village
Phone number: 317-331-3909
Email: mclark@imcoalition.org
How to help through Season for Sharing
The mission of IndyStar’s annual Season for Sharing campaign is to harness the power of local journalism and you to make a difference in the lives of Central Indiana youth.
Through Season for Sharing, IndyStar collects donations for the Summer Youth Program Fund, a partnership that supports high-quality summer programs serving about 50,000 Marion County youth each year.
To contribute, visit indianapolisfoundation.org/season-for-sharing or mail a check to: Central Indiana Community Foundation, Attn: Season for Sharing, 615 N. Alabama St. Suite 300, Indianapolis, IN 46204.
Because IndyStar covers all fundraising and administrative costs, 100% of your gift will go directly to Central Indiana agencies.
Contact Jake Allen at jake.allen@indystar.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @Jake_Allen19.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Season for Sharing: Kids learn different cultures at ‘Global Explorers’ camp
Reporting by Jake Allen, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jake Allen, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
