SUNDAY, APR 5 – 11AM  

Stories by Children at the Well

Children at the Well provides training and practice in the art of storytelling to enable young people to strengthen their empathy and find their voice so they may take their place as creative, inclusive and compassionate leaders. Learn more about Children at the Well at: www.childrenatthewell.org

Fiona Schlossberg is a 10th grader at Niskayuna HS. Her story is Ruth, a Lamed Vovnik, Gets her Wish. Fiona is a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, and part of Drama Kids International.

Ella Kuban, a freshman at Schenectady HS, is a member of the Capital District Youth Chorale and a volunteer in the Cast Program at Proctors Theater in Schenectady. Ella also dances with the St. Adalbert’s Polish Dancers. Her story is Clever Manka, a Czechoslovakian folk tale.

Ethan Waters is an 8th grader at Gowana Middle School, Shenendehowa. Ethan is telling Mazel and Shlimazel, from the story by Isaac Bashevis Singer. In addition to storytelling, Ethan enjoys playing the violin and working with his First Lego League Robotics team.

Yusra Rashid is a 10th grader at Annur Islamic School, Schenectady. Yusra is telling Wise Sailimai, a Muslim tale from the Uyghurs of China. Yusra’s interests include reading, graphic design, and working with computers.

Varun Mondaiyka, a senior at Shaker HS, will be telling Krishna and Sudama, a traditional tale of friendship. He has told stories at the Clearwater Festival, the Saratoga Dance Flurry, Old Songs Festival and the historic Proctors Theater in Schenectady. Interested in bringing about cultural understanding through storytelling, he’s an assistant C@W storycoach and executive producer of ShakerTEDx.

Urwa Rashid is in the 9th grade at Annur Islamic School. She’s telling 3 short tales of Mullah Nasruddin – “The Pot,” “The Crowded House,” and “The People’s Judgement.” She loves doing sports, including badminton and Tae Kwon Do.

Rebecca Schechter, Niskayuna HS sophomore, likes to row and play saxophone (not at the same time, of course!). Her story is The Bird Trap, from A Complete Treasury of Stories for Public Speakers compiled and edited by Morris Mandel.

Ayah Osman, a senior at Niskayuna HS, is a Muslim American storyteller, poet, and student-activist. Ayah was formerly a Children at the Well storyteller and is now an assistant C@W storycoach. She will present her original poem “Black Girl Magic.”