Most children do not have time to write and are not encouraged enough to be creative. Kit Azzopardi and Leanne Ellul, the brains behind Kul, tell Veronica Stivala about their creative writing project at the upcoming ŻiguŻajg festival.

Most children do not have the time to write, besides having quite a few misconceptions about writing, even though the ability to narrate is deeply ingrained in the way we process information. Yet, when given the opportunity they can be quite creative, probably because they have not yet come to terms with the world as much as grown-ups have.

This is one of the main reasons behind Kul, an initiative set up by Kit Azzopardi and Leanne Ellul (K, and L, get it?), to work in the cultural field and offer writing services through artistic projects and collaborations.

One element they find lacking is encouragement. “We often come across parents who encourage their children to pursue their studies or sports. Yet, creative initiatives are not as enthusiastically encouraged as these,” comments Azzopardi.

We will still be pushing forward three of the most essential aspects of haiku, irrespective of cultural background

Their latest project, which forms part of the children’s festival ŻiguŻajg, is entitled Ħajkuħajk. The creative writing project will bring together two very different cultures – Maltese and Japanese – as children aged between nine and 12 will learn how to write the 17-syllable Japanese poem, but in Maltese.

I am curious to know how the two have managed to merge such diverse cultures. Azzopardi says that although haiku is of Japanese origins, it has been adopted in many other cultures, so much so that Western haiku is often considered as a separate genre.

Locally, poets such as Anton Buttigieg and Victor Fenech have helped a lot to contribute towards a Maltese tradition. However, one might say that over the years it has been abused and nowadays haiku does not have much in common with what it originally stood for.

“While we will not be expecting children attending our workshops to write perfect haiku, we will still be pushing forward three of the most essential aspects of haiku, irrespective of cultural background – its immediacy, its inspiration from nature and two opposing actions,” notes Ellul.

Each session will be based on methods that have been pedagogically tested and, finally, the children will be able to present their writings in an environment where they have centre stage.

Both Azzopardi and Ellul are no strangers to the local literary scene. Azzopardi is reading for a Masters degree in contemporary Maltese poetry and has been a literary activist for quite a few years.

Ellul was recently awarded first prize in the Premju Francis Ebejer and tries her hand at writing in different genres. Both attribute their love of literature to some lecturers whom they admire a lot, as well as their love for reading.

Although Ellul worked on the Ħal Mitfa project during last year’s ŻiguŻajg, this is the first time the two have been involved together as KuL with their own project.

But why haiku?

“The immediacy and conciseness of the haiku are what drew us to the genre,” answers Ellul. She goes on to admit how, although students are exposed to haiku, this is always done in very simplistic terms, which she found frustrating given the rich culture it entails.

This genre also seemed to be a good compromise between something that can be experienced by children and something that can be taught to them.

Ellul’s experience as a teacher has taught her that children love this genre and are eager to try their hand at writing poetry by starting with a haiku.

To make the experience even more exciting for children there will be Kul’s two mascots – Ku and Bu. Ku is a kukkudril (crocodile) and Bu is a bebbuxu (snail) and they will be accompanying the team during their workshops.

Designed by Nadine Noko and sewn by Maria Muscat of Babettopolis, the mascots will also offer a few hints to the kids about haiku.

“They have only just been adopted,” confides Azzopardi, “so they have only just started learning about haiku. Fingers crossed they will remember a thing or two…”

Ħajkuħajk will offer something different to young audiences while resulting in creations by the participants themselves.

ŻiguŻajg International Children’s Festival runs between November 17 and 23.

www.ziguzajg.org