85 BUSINESS mathematical concepts. 5Sense of accomplishment: Having taught many children across Africa how to knit, I haven’t met any child who doesn’t smile when their knitting gets to the finish point. The beam on their faces is so happy that I call it their happy place. The place of completion and showcasing. Completing a knitting or crocheting project provides a tangible sense of achievement, boosting self-esteem and confidence. 6Social skills and community building: Communication skills for young knitters and crocheters is huge while busy working with their hands. As their hands flow, words flow out of their mouth as well. I call it the endless chats. Once young leaners get past the learning curve of knitting and crocheting, they are seen teaching their friends, classmates along the school corridors. Then they start to make items for their loved ones. Some progress to starting a business with their craft. These group knitting or crocheting sessions encourage social interaction and teamwork, helping children develop communication and collaboration skills. Arousing the interest of young knitters and crocheters can be by having them watch videos of other leaners across the world that are knitting and crocheting as well. We have amazing videos of Jonah Larson on YouTube and more. Then I’m also excited as a teacher when I show a project that I knitted or crocheted to class. I say, excited teachers create excited learners and great learning takes place. Other approaches are: • Telling stories about knitting and crochet. • Displaying colourful yarns in class for all to see. This get them curious and this interest in yarns is further increased when they know the many things that they can do with yarns. • Placing something in their hands as soon as possible to experiment with. May be a spool loom or a weaving loom. This keeps their excitement sustained. Elizabeth Okeyele-Olatunji, recently won the award for Emerging Leader at The Golden Scissor Awards at h+h americas. The awards ceremony took place live on stage at h+h Americas at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Centre in Rosemont, Illinois this May. Elizabeth is making a difference in the lives of countless young people in her home country of Nigeria. Through her organization, Tunnizze Creation, she has set a goal to reach 20,000 African children with the skills of knitting and crochet. In her spare time, she speaks and writes about creativity and crafting for the next generation. Learn more about her work on www.facebook.com/TunnizzeCreation Natalia Blauth on Unsplash Nik on Unsplash
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