HART
HART was conceived in response to Hurricane Melissa and the Ministry of Education and Youth's new policy expanding its focus from STEM to STEAM, (integrating the arts into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) to improve critical thinking and creativity among students. MOJAH is teaming up with renowned Jamaican storyteller Dr. Amina Blackwood Meeks and her Ntukuma Storytelling Foundation of Jamaica to bring fun HART storytelling sessions and creative art classes to children in rural St. Elizabeth, where many have experienced trauma.
TAINO SYMBOLS paintings by Students at St. Alban’s Primary and Infant School
Why This
Programme Exists
MOJAH has been invited by the Ministry into schools in St. Elizabeth to pilot HART. This pilot phase will allow MOJAH to build a sustainable, repeatable HART model for primary and secondary schools. HART is designed to grow—reaching more schools and more communities.
What HART Does?
Through innovative and interactive HART painting workshops, storytelling events, interactive music performance and environmental awareness, participants are invited to think boldly and creatively. Children collaborate, share personal experiences, and discover new ways to express themselves, regardless of academic ability or artistic confidence.
Each HART session begins with curiosity: an object, a sound, a story, a question. Students are encouraged to guess, remix, interpret and respond freely — without fear of right or wrong. Using themes drawn from their everyday lives — Jamaican nature, food, music, current and historic events.
WHO THE PROGRAMME SERVES
Primary Beneficiaries for HART
- Children 6-13
- Parents and Teachers
- Creative Artists, Musicians, Storytellers and local Support Staff
- Elders in rural communities who will share their memories
Support Gift Bags and Classroom Resources - paints, art, materials and age-appropriate books that extend the experience beyond the workshops or events USD $15 - $25 - $50 - $100 or $500 for a school - this helps us cover stipends, accommodation and transportation for the facilitators and guests.
A Programme with Lasting Impact
Moments of creative encouragement in childhood can shape a child’s resiliency and how young people see themselves and their future. HART is designed to create those moments — grounded in culture, care, celebration, and community.
The initiative is dedicated to the memory of Mazola Wa Mwashighadi, an artist and educator whose work was deeply inspired by the children he taught.
THE MAKING OF OUR CHILDREN’S LOGO
WITH ARTIST TEACHER MAZOLA WA MWASHIGHADI
WITH ARTIST TEACHER MAZOLA WA MWASHIGHADI
The children of St. Alban’s Primary and Infant School were delighted to have a visit from the renowned Kenyan Artist MAZOLA WA MWASHIGHADI in September 2025.
He showed them the MOJAH sign, explaining that MOJA in Swahili means “ONE”. By showing them how letters can be illuminated, they painted colourful patterns around each letter and experimented together on a large sheet of paper. The best letters were chosen for the final design. Like our teacher Mazola, we believe that children’s creativity has value.
We hope you like this logo too.
How to Support MOJAH has HART
Support the programme
BECOME A SPONSOR - we need corporate/business sponsors for our events.
Donations help fund workshops, materials, and outreach to children and schools.
Get involved
MOJAH welcomes educators and creatives interested in contributing heritage-based skills such as art, storytelling, music, or dance.
Get involved
