Today we’d like to introduce you to Chioma Onyewuchi.
Hi Chioma, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Motherhood has been the origin story of all of this for me. When I found out I was going to be a mother, I began to ask internal questions about the place of children in the world, specifically with regard to education. I began to think deeply about the role of education and its impact on children. I also wondered if it was possible to have children wake up excited to engage with learning and explore the world every day through joyful & immersive, hands-on experiences that also respected their bodies, hearts, minds, and spirits.
Through years of research and discovery, I learned that there were, indeed, viable alternatives. Alternatives that centered children’s voices and interests, that created learning environments where children were actually excited to be, to learn, and to explore. I wanted my children to be part of a learning community like that – able to show up as themselves, discover their interests and passions, and use the community as a laboratory to have limitless learning experiences.
However, for me, one key piece was missing – one that was really central for me: the study and exploration of African peoples and cultures, both traditional and contemporary.
As an African woman who grew up in Nigeria, with children born and raised outside the continent, this piece is pivotal for me. There is still so much missing from the conversations that people have about Africa. Much of that conversation is the result of honest ignorance without malicious intent, a genuine lack of knowledge about the continent. It led me to imagine what might happen if children, still in their formative years, could get a more comprehensive view of Africa – one that showcases the rich diversity, vibrancy, and genius of this second-largest continent in a joyful, exploratory way.
So, I mustered up all the courage I had and took a life-changing course on starting a school or learning center based on alternative education and child-centered principles. That course introduced me to amazing teachers, mentors, and world-renowned practitioners, some of whom have walked this path for decades. Through the months of learning and introspection, the idea for the learning center was born.
I am so excited to present Heart & Heritage Center.
At Heart & Heritage Center, children develop a connection to nature & environmental education; learn to become makers & creators (not just consumers) – developing creative thinking, skills that last a lifetime, and a foundation for upcycling materials in their environment; have immersive & hands-on learning experiences; and find a connection to African cultures. Sometimes, these will happen simultaneously.
I hope to be able to partner with amazing experts of all cultures to craft engaging lessons for children to explore limitless interests.
We launch in February 2023.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The biggest struggle has definitely been mental and psychological. As someone creating anything new, it can be a lonely, scary road. It’s easy to get caught up in questioning the value and viability of your idea. For me, having the support of mentors through the course, I took and the encouragement and expertise of my amazing coach & mentor through this journey has been really pivotal!
Of course, capital is always a major one. It can be a perfectionist’s trap to think that you can only move forward when you have the capital to begin in a big, splashy way. I am learning, especially from my mentor, that you can offer high-quality and high value with the resources you have now, as well as some creative & innovative thinking.
We’ve been impressed with Heart & Heritage Center, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Heart & Heritage Center is an alternative experiential and outdoor learning center in Greater Houston, TX, that guides children to be creative thinkers and ethical doers who are deeply connected to African heritage. We believe that children should be fully seen, deeply heard, and truly loved.
What’s next?
I have huge plans for the future.
My dream is to have a van that takes children on excursions weekly around the Greater Houston area, the rest of Texas, and beyond to explore parks, nature centers, farms, relevant businesses, museums, and other areas of interest. I am hoping to open up exploratory opportunities filled with wonder for children.
I also hope to create amazing explorations of various aspects of African cultures to the community through the learning center, especially through the arts, design, and food.
I welcome any partnerships to make these happen. 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: www.heartandheritage.center
