Crossing Climate Cultures

In a remarkable collaboration, Hotspur Primary School in Newcastle went on a creative journey with schools in Bangladesh and India. Facilitated by Cap-a-Pie along with Dr. Niki Black, Professor Maggie Roe from the Living Delta’s research hub at Newcastle University, and creatives Swastik Pal and Fahmida Rahman, the project aimed to explore the intricate relationship between nature and culture in the Sundarbans – a vast mangrove forest in the Ganges River delta. This project brought together young people from different parts of the world to share their views on climate change.

Project goal

The project aimed to foster a deeper connection between children in Newcastle and those living in the Sundarbans. Previous workshops had highlighted the gap between the children’s understanding and the distant reality of the deltas. By involving local people from the Sundarbans, the project sought to offer a more authentic and three-dimensional view of life in these regions. The goal was to make the deltas come alive for the children, allowing them to see beyond their classroom walls and understand the environmental challenges faced by people in other parts of the world.

Concept and collaboration

The collaboration originated from the our Deltas project, where we worked closely with Dr. Niki Black, a social scientist researching the cultural and spiritual practices of the people in the Bangladesh Sundarbans, particularly those collecting wild honey. Dr. Black, along with Professor Maggie Roe, helped connect us with the schools in Bangladesh and India through their existing relationships. They also brought on board documentary photographer Swastik Pal and filmmaker Fahmida Rahman to engage with the local schools and facilitate the creative aspects of the project in the Sundarbans.

Engaging workshops

At Hotspur Primary School, the workshops were designed to inspire children to think about nature and their relationship with it. The activities included:

• Audio recording: Students discussed their perceptions of nature, whether they believed there was less nature now compared to before, and how nature played a part in their playtime.
• Drawing: Students drew their favourite outdoor spaces in Newcastle.
• Photography and filming: Equipped with iPads, students explored their school’s green spaces, taking pictures and filming each other engaging with nature. We were grateful to have the support of filmmaker and photographer Lindsay Duncanson who guided the students to take some brilliant pictures. 
• Poetry: Students created poems about nature, describing elements they imagined in “Mother Nature’s Garden” and then brought these poems to life through physical activities.

In India and Bangladesh, similar workshops were conducted. The young people there watched the film created by the Hotspur students and then produced their own films, capturing their unique environments and daily lives.

Impact on understanding climate change

The exchange of films provided a window into each other’s worlds. The Hotspur students, after watching the films from the Sundarbans, had the opportunity to ask questions and learn about the different lifestyles and environments. The children in the Sundarbans, in turn, were fascinated by the snowy landscapes and different types of flora and fauna in the UK, sparking curiosity and a deeper understanding of global diversity.

Through this project, the students gained a nuanced perspective on climate change. They moved beyond a general awareness of global issues to understanding how climate change affects specific communities in tangible ways. 

Watch the films

To experience the children’s journey and see their creative expressions, watch the films created by the students from each participating school.

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The Team

Creative lead in India
Swastik Pal 

Creative lead in Bangladesh
Fahmida Rahman 

Creatives in UK
Brad McCormick and Katy Vanden from Cap-a-Pie with Lindsay Duncanson

Research by
Dr Niki Black and Professor Maggie Roe, Newcastle University, UK 

Funded by
Catherine Cookson Foundation, Living Deltas UKRI Research Hub and Community Foundation for Tyne & Wear and Northumberland.