5th Graders Talk about Slavery

By: Heather Gentzel 
Restavek Freedom Communications and Child Sponsorship Coordinator

This week a few of us from the Restavek Freedom U.S. office were
invited to a local school to talk with 5^th graders about modern-day
slavery.  

The second to last day before
summer break, their dedicated teachers were taking them on a field trip to
Cincinnati’s Freedom Center, where
Restavek Freedom currently has items on display.  The students were very engaged as we did a
couple of our creative
learning activities with them.

We began with an activity called “What Does Slavery Look
Like?” which is designed to challenge preconceptions and teach students the
different forms modern-day slavery may take.
As you might imagine, when asked what comes to mind when they hear the
word “slavery,” most students picture the slavery that existed in the United
States in the 1800s, which they have learned about in school.  

We are always moved, however, by the students’ feelings and
sense of injustice towards slavery in any form.

The 5^th graders in this class had a great sense
of empathy during this activity. In
colorful imagery, they put their thoughts to paper as they imagined what it
would feel like to live in slavery, whether they pictured a lack of freedom…

….or isolation.

One student in particular caught our attention as she
captured a very profound issue.  What she
drew no doubt existed during the period of slavery in the United States, and
exists just as much today.  We were
struck by her maturity as she explained in extremely insightful yet simple terms:

“This is someone living in slavery,” she said, pointing to
the girl in the middle of the picture.
“And this,” she motioned to the girl on the left, “is someone who knows
what’s going on, but looks away.”

I was speechless as she shared her drawing with me.  We have done this activity with several
different schools and various ages of students, but she was the first to call
out this reality on paper.  Turning a
blind eye.  Burying your head in the sand.  Choosing to look the other way.  With
crayons, she drew a temptation all of us have when we hear about something so
heavy as modern-day slavery.  Yet the simplicity
of a child capturing this on paper and calling it what it was, was powerful.

She, along with the other 5^th graders, drew in
full color and creativity the very real emotions felt by those who are enslaved
today, and were not shy about calling out the injustice of slavery.  We are so encouraged by these students and
their generation, who believe in bringing an end to slavery.

To bring our interactive exhibit and creative learning
activities to your school, church, or group, contact info@restavekfreedom.org.  We would love to partner with you!