Paramaribo, Suriname's capital, has a museum that is quickly climbing on the popularity list of kids: the children's museum of Villa Zapakara. From August 2011 until the end of January 2013, the museum has been transformed into India's metropolis of Mumbai (formerly Bombay). Here, children learn about art, dance, culture and daily life in India through interactive programs.
Activities at the children's museum of Villa Zapakara
There are 1-hour workshops on Indian crafts and a 75-minute tour of Mumbai. You can also use the multimedia room or watch a movie in the Talkie (cinema). Dakaya Lenz, manager of Villa Zapakara, explains, "Through these programs we want to stimulate the children's curiosity to explore new things, to learn about a different country in an educational and interactive way."
A banner above the gate to Mumbai invites the visitor, "A Star in the City." When I arrive, children are learning how to make rangolis. These are delicate designs made with coloured sand, which in India people often make in front of their door entrance during religious holidays. Children can choose their own design and colour, and make as many rangolis as they want.
The train to Mumbai to work and become a star
But the children have to watch the clock. They don't want to miss the train to Mumbai! They are children from the countryside who want to travel to the big city to become famous and rich. Just before the train leaves, they gather at the train station. Here they meet their aunties, dressed in Indian shalwar kamizes: Shaundel, Priya and Cher.
The aunties teach them the proper way to greet people: saying namaste while folding your hands in front of your chest. "Mumbai is the city of dreams, but you need an aunty to find your way around the big city, and help you in the workshops," Priya explains.
In the train you have to hang onto a handle, because the train rocks you back and forth. Meanwhile you can watch landscapes passing by the windows. When the train halts and the doors open, we step into Mumbai. A black and yellow taxi stands waiting, next to a large Ganesha elephant statue.
The aunties give a tour, explaining how the public phone works, where you can buy clothes and bangles, and tell the story of how a chai wallah – a seller of milk tea – worked his way up and now owns his own restaurant. "If you want to be successful, you always have to start at the bottom," they warn.
Education through interaction, learning Indian crafts, and dancing in a Bollywood movie clip
Each child is assigned to a workshop and each group has a manager. Being the manager is an important job. Chanel (8) works at the flower shop and is busy taking phone calls to take orders. She also has to make sure the orders are delivered in time. The children make flower garlands, paint pottery, or work in the restaurant, where they make Indian snacks and serve India's milk tea called chai.
In the background are the typical noises of traffic, which are interrupted by an announcement. The aunties understand what this means: somebody is recruiting participants for a Bollywood movie. This is a chance to become a star! The children are dressed in colourful shirts, learn a dance and are videoed.
Not much later, while eating a delicious Bombay sandwich with chutney and cheese, they can see themselves on a large screen in the New Roshan Talkies theatre. Their dances have been incorporated in a real Bollywood video clip. Maybe their parents will buy a copy of the DVD to take home.
Workshops at the children's museum of Villa Zapakara in Paramaribo
It is time to go. There are other workshops to attend. Depending on the museum's weekly schedule this may be, among other things, sculpting and painting a Ganesha statue, decorating your hands with henna or playing cricket.
As I walk the grounds I see a rickshaw.
"Where are you going?" I ask the driver.
"To the Netherlands," four-year-old Tania informs me.
"Can I come, how much will it cost?" I ask.
"Two hundred SRD. But it is very far. One hundred hours. When you arrive you will be very, very tired," she warns.
"No spang," I say, "Not to worry."
Off we go.
Practical Information on Villa Zapakara – opening hours and entrance fees
- Address: Prins Hendrikstraat 17B (Ons Erf), Paramaribo, Suriname. Tel: 422212.
- Email: info@villazapakara.com.
- Note that children under 10 need to be accompanied by an adult.
- The weekly schedules with workshops can be found on Villa Zapakara's website. Workshops start at 10am, 11 am and 3pm and on Fridays there is a movie in the Talkie (movie theatre).
- Opening hours during school holidays (Aug 20-Sep 27, 2011): daily from 10am-4pm.
- Opening hours outside school holidays: Mon-Fri 8am-13pm for schools and Saturday 10am-4pm for the general public.
- Special opening hours available for groups larger than 15 persons.
- Fees: 1-hour workshops SRD 7.5 / the 75-minute tour of Mumbai SRD 5 / use of multimedia room SRD 2.5 SRD / the cinema SRD 5.
- Reservations are recommended.
Karin-Marijke Vis - Karin-Marijke Vis is a bilingual writer (Dutch-English) who has been traveling in Asia and South America since 2003.
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