Fifteen new kabouway drivers take to the roads in Bellevue

kabouway

As a result of a five day workshop, fifteen boys and girls proudly drove the kabouways they had built around the roads of Bellvue-Chopin this week.

Local expert Ebson Stuart together with Peace Corps volunteer Mitch Stricker met with the students and guided them through the sawing, hammering and painting needed to make their new kabouways.

“I was very impressed with the kids,” said Mitch. “It wasn’t easy and it took a long time. Everyone just wanted to put on the wheels and hit the road, but they took it one step at a time and did some really nice work.”

Kabouways are traditional toys that the residents of Bellevue have played with for generations. Mr. Stuart became an expert in their construction when he was a boy because when he got in trouble, his mother broke up his kabouway and burned the pieces as punishment. This meant he got a lot of practice rebuilding them.

Now he has passed some of his expertise on to a new generation.

It was encouraging to see several parents and community members stop by and lend a helping hand to the children. Several people donated materials and the use of their tools as well. Without such support, the workshop would not have been possible.

The workshop has been promised financial sponsorship from Mr. Gregory Rabess, the Cultural Officer in charge of projects at the Cultural Division. He was on hand to take some video and see how things turned out on the last day.

He watched as the children demonstrated their driving skills around a safety course drawn on the primary school playground. They all completed this successfully and were awarded their official Kabouway Driver’s License.

The workshop concluded with a prize-giving for the three best entries. Winners got lights, colored chalk to draw new roads and extra items to use for further decoration. When it was all over, they happily drove their new kabouways home.

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11 Comments

  1. July 28, 2015

    wow, I remember those days, remembering the struggle to make the wheels round. good stuff

  2. simbeart john
    July 28, 2015

    Why are the peace corp instructing how to build kabouway, this art form is part of our culture we need to maintain, yes we will welcome funding to keep the culture alive and keep our youth positively occupied.

  3. The Real Facts - ON
    July 27, 2015

    Good job guys. Excellent skills. Quick learners too. Keep it up.
    Enjoy your school holidays and keep safe.

  4. July 27, 2015

    This is a great form of recreation for children ,they can use their skills to work the wood and make it become something that they can enjoy during the sunny days to play as we did long ago..
    Nonetheless i must say to my memories this is not a kabouway but a little truck,,a kabouway sits lower to the ground at almost a little higher than the ankle in height and is controlled by a stering motion at the front,,,we normally sit on kabouways and push little trucks ,,

  5. bkfall
    July 27, 2015

    This is one of the best things they can do for the children up there. That village is up, up, up in the mountain and I would imagine they have limited access to projects and fun things to do.

  6. grell
    July 27, 2015

    Great job and keeeping our culture alive,this is what our kids should be learning also.

  7. too late
    July 27, 2015

    i hope them kabouway owners pay de road tax too

    • The Real Facts - ON
      July 27, 2015

      They are exempt. Got a special exemption and also due to being underage. :lol:

      • ATKINSON
        July 28, 2015

        Not after the government see this, they will be tax :mrgreen:

  8. %
    July 27, 2015

    I like the last picture, where they are on display!

  9. %
    July 27, 2015

    Good way for the children to spend the Summer. Clean fun while not forgetting a little bookwork.To the facilitators? GOOD JOB!
    The little ones were actively involved. Future architects, carpenters,woodwork instructors, etc,etc,etc,etc.

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