Global Village Project in Decatur, GA is a tuition free middle school for refugee girls coming to the U.S with interrupted education.
Containing 55 songs written by, for, and with GVP students, Imagine A Circle is also a
guidebook for using singing and songwriting to teach English Language Learners (ELL) around
the globe. Designed by artist Jessica Lily, the book includes song lyrics, music notation, stories
about the songs, teaching tips, and striking student artwork.
“Sometimes a concept that is hard for students to grasp becomes easy when we write a song
about it,” says Elise Witt, Director of Music Programs at GVP since its inception. “We have
written songs about Punctuation, the Oceans, and the Secrets of Math. We also have a song about
the 5 Freedoms in the UN Rights of the Child, and songs about Malala Yousafzai and Wangari
Maathai.”
“If you walk on my bridge, I will never leave you,” a student written line from the “Bridges”
song, became the theme of this year’s Welcome Walk, connecting the towns of Clarkston (where
most of the students’ families live) with Decatur (where the school is housed).
Witt also uses a technique she calls Polyrhythmic Multi-lingual Musical Collage – “I See You
With My Heart,” layers the word for “Welcome” in each of the 9 languages spoken at GVP,
creating linguistic and musical harmony.
