The Aakowa Parables Inc.

Overview
Here's what makes The Aakowa Parables Inc. stand out
As an extracurricular-afterschool program, Storytelling for Mental Health is specifically for teens interested to develop their art of storytelling for theatre and/or film. They will work and share ideas in a small group, crafting a professional script and go through the detailed process of character and story development. In the end, they can use the learned tools to generate their own scripts in the future. The Aakowa Parables Inc., as a company, has spent nearly 20 years using literature, live theatre and film as a tool for self-reflection.

Special needs: Not available

LGBTQ+ friendly community
Visit the The Aakowa Parables Inc. website

Programs, Rates & Dates

Programs and Sessions Calendar

The process of creating a story is an exercise that allows us to analyze our own beliefs and thoughts through the characters and plots we create. With this program, participants are given the platform to express their own truths about the world in a healthy manner among their peers, in benefit of their mental health. As a group, they will attempt to create a theatrical or film masterpiece! The finished script will potentially be used by The Aakowa Parables Inc. in its online platform, live theatrical events and/or submitted to film festivals, where youth participants will be credited professionally for their work as writers.

Choose the right programs and sessions for your child; The Aakowa Parables Inc. currently has 1 program available.

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Date

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Storytelling for Mental health

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Class/league/program
Coed
Ages: 14 - 18+

Performing Arts (multi), Theatre Arts

$150 to $300

Downtown West, Toronto, ON 805 Dovercourt Road	Mar 08-31	$150 - $300
Downtown West, Toronto, ON 805 Dovercourt Road	Apr 01-30	$150 - $300
Downtown West, Toronto, ON 805 Dovercourt Road	May 01-31	$150 - $300
Downtown West, Toronto, ON 805 Dovercourt Road	Jun 01-30	$150 - $300
Downtown West, Toronto, ON 805 Dovercourt Road	Jul 01-31	$150 - $300
Downtown West, Toronto, ON 805 Dovercourt Road	Aug 01-31	$150 - $300
Downtown West, Toronto, ON 805 Dovercourt Road	Sep 01-30	$150 - $300
Downtown West, Toronto, ON 805 Dovercourt Road	Oct 01-31	$150 - $300
Downtown West, Toronto, ON 805 Dovercourt Road	Nov 01-30	$150 - $300
Downtown West, Toronto, ON 805 Dovercourt Road	Dec 01-31	$150 - $300

Registration Details

The best way to register is to visit www.aakowa.com/youth-program. This is a year-round extracurricular-afterschool program for those interested. Group sizes are kept small (max. 6) to allow for every participant to be heard with their ideas for the theatrical or film script created. Writing sessions are mix of in-person and conveniently online.

Financial Aid & Payment Details

Payment Options:

Deposit required with acceptance	Yes
Credit card payment	Yes
Maximum installments available	4

Reviews & Insider Perspectives

The Our Kids review of The Aakowa Parables Inc.

This uniquely creative program is ideal for aspiring filmmakers and actors, those craving a healing, creative outlet, and/or kids dealing with loss or other mental health concerns. Through this workshop, the Ghanian-born artist Aakowa shares the power of storytelling, exemplified in his own journey that's resulted in a career in the arts. It’s an ideal way for students from various backgrounds throughout the city to engage and develop their personal voice. The program gives teens practical experience with writing, plotting, character arcs, dialogue, editing, and dealing with feedback from others, ultimately working with actors and staging a performance. Young creative minds have a unique opportunity to put themselves out there in this one-of-a-kind program.

Visit the The Aakowa Parables Inc. website
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Meet the Staff

Director's Message

Storytelling for Mental Health stems from the mission to use storytelling as a tool of inspiration, motivation and self-reflection. In the process of story development, we start with a simple question: "What do you guys want to talk about?" From there, pointed questions and healthy discussions continue to allow each youth to create characters, plot and ideas that reflect their natural view of the world. It's exciting for them to see how their theatrical or film script comes together. Without really noticing, participants discover more about themselves as they analyze the story. They shine light on areas of their thinking that they never considered before. In a time when the world is throwing many challenges at us, teens especially will find this exercise benefits their mental health. They are given the platform to share and connect with their peers, building something meaningful for the world to witness. In the end, there is a sense of accomplishment that builds self-esteem that they can carry with them to other areas of their life, and especially if interested to pursue writing as a career. As a company, The Aakowa Parables Inc. will seek to take select scripts and develop further with the tools we have. This means potentially showcasing the script with live theatre or recording and submitting to film festivals, and/or presenting on the aakowa.com online platform. In such a case, the participants would be given full writing credits, which they can use on their resume.

Staff and Counsellors

As the program host, Aakowa is a professional writer & director who has worked extensively with several youth organizations and groups, including Covenant House, Stella's Place, Horizons for Youth, Route to Roots and multiple middle-school and high school classrooms throughout the GTA. Concluding sessions, where participants share what their story teaches viewers, include a clinical lead, who sits in as a trained youth worker with extensive understanding in youth psychology.

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