WASHINGTON — Originally from the West African country of Liberia, longtime D.C. resident Vera Oyé Yaa Anna is affectionately known as Auntie Oyé. She is a professional storyteller who spends her Thursdays in Ward 8’s FAN DC building up the children of the community by teaching them how to write and tell their stories. It's an art she learned in her homeland as a child.
"The elders would expect you to know a story. Everyday you have a story. You have a story when you went to school. What happened in school? Everything is a story," she said.
It’s through the writing of these stories that the children learn to appreciate each other. More importantly, they learn to appreciate themselves.
"But the writing is the one that really promotes your interest in yourself. Because I often have to ask them, 'who loves you better than you?'"
It's a love she takes seriously. So much so that once a month she has the children write love letters to themselves. They’re beautiful. Filled with loving affirmations like: You’re smart. You’re pretty. You’re amazing. I can put my mind to anything I could do. I believe in myself. I love myself.
It sounds as though they’ve learned the answer to Auntie’s question.
She has her own nonprofit called Oye Palava Hut as well. Since 2003, it has served the people in her adopted hometown of D.C. through Afrocentric workshops. Her vision is to help children on their path to become more "confident, creative and constructive" in part by teaching them about the rich history of Africa.
We surprised Auntie Oye with a check for $2,200 from WUSA9 and Easterns Automotive to help make her vision a reality.
FAN DC is accepts donations on through their websites.
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