An ambitious project led from Christchurch, whose vision is to enable students to build their language and cross cultural skills by making a connection with their own roots, and to share it with others in relation to World War One.

Project Quick Facts 

Who is involved? 

Shirley Boys High School. Christchurch, Suzy Lallemant
Lycee Jacques Caron, Arras Carole VEHENT
Lycee Carnot, Dijon Sylvie Pipon 

The relationship with Lycée Jacque Carron is born from the YA2016 trip when Sean, Young Ambassador, who helped make the initial connections.

Eight students from Shirley Boys will be travelling to Arras, then Dijon, and deliver the Pou to their intended destinations

What about the Pou? 

Two pou, of three panels each, are currently being carved in Christchurch by Master Carver for Ngai Tahu Caine Tauwhare, one for each host school. The carving, design and build are the result of an evolutive process as it is intended to incorporate the information provided 3 panels each to represent Oraka/Shirley/Otautahi region, Dijon or Arras, and the links between France and NZ in the two world wars.

The plan is to ship them to France “flat packed” and then the students at Lycee Jacques le Caron in Arras will help assemble them as it a specialist construction school which is one of the reasons we decided to make the pou.  We are so excited about working on it with them!!   The pou are treated for the outdoors so they are intended to be an outdoor piece. 

Concept design:

Wood in the trailer!

Cutting the wood:

Realisation: cutting of a Bleuet