Shoring up an Easter tradition

Mason teaches kite making

Twenty-eight-year-old Akeem Mason is continuing the art of traditional kite making.

Mason, the owner of Mason Woodworkz, today taught 20 students who were attending a kite making workshop which was organized by Sagicor for children between six and eleven-years-old.

The young craftsman told Barbados TODAY he became involved in the kite making business as he watched children in his community make kites and that sparked his interest.

“I got involved in kite making from a very young age. It started with persons in the neighbourhood having fun with kites and I told myself that I wanted to do that. I was always very crafty with my hands so I just put my mind to it,” he said.

Mason said it is unfortunate that young children do not know how to make kites from scratch. As their parents do not have the patience to teach them, they purchase ready-made kites.

“It is sad to see children do not know how to make a kite but then to see how they put their mind behind how to create it [was good]. I did not have to tell them anything, and they did everything on their own,” he said.

The businessman said he is hosting a Kite Flying Extravaganza event where he will be giving away kites to young persons for the Easter Celebrations.

“You can bring your family to [King George the V Park] and have a great time,” he said.

Manager, Customer Experience at Sagicor Cynthia Blackman said the organization decided to have the activity to teach the children the traditional way of making kites.

“Since it is the Easter vacation we thought we would conceptualize a kite making and kite flying activity for our children. We have 20 children here today and we teamed up with young Akeem Mason. When we approached him he was excited to have the opportunity to come and share with the children because most of them have been exposed to bat kites. The children… are having a good time and we are seeing their creativity shining through,” she said. (LG)