by Marjaneh Moghimi
Executive Director of Butimar Productions

Homa Hanjani Tabatabai, a native of Tehran, Iran, has been teaching at Kittredge School in San Francisco for the past seven years. She received her bachelor of art in psychology at California State University, Northridge. While there, she coordinated an international organization, SPICE (Student Panels for International Curriculum and Education) for sharing personal, cultural, and educational values and concerns between foreign and American students in various classroom settings. She holds a Multiple Subject, CLAD Credential from San Francisco State University. I had the pleasure of working with Homa in the spring of 2000 when we organized an art exhibition for children at the Persian Center's Norouz Festival. Her professionalism and creativity so impressed me that when she suggested we collaborate again, this time on the Norouz celebration at the Asian Art Museum, I jumped at the opportunity. I speak for all of Butimar Productions when I say that we are delighted to be working with Homa on the Mini Haft-Seen Project. Recently, I sat down with Homa at her apartment in the Cole Valley district of San Francisco to talk about her educational philosophy and vision for the Mini Haft-Seen Project.

Marjaneh MOGHIMI: How did you come up with the idea of the Mini Haft-Seens for children?

Homa H. TABATABAI: In October 2000 I received a call from Aislin Scofield, manager of cultural programs at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum, who was planning the cultural celebration for Norouz for March 2001. I was asked to come up with a hands-on activity for children of all cultural backgrounds that would help to introduce them to the traditions of the Norouz celebration. Mini Haft-Seens seemed like a perfect project-both fun and educational.

MOGHIMI: Why do you think it's important to include intercultural activities in schools' curriculum?

TABATABAI: Having taught for five years and having been in a school environment for over nine years, I believe it is essential to include intercultural activities in our diversified school communities. Teachers are already using curriculum guides for Christmas, Hanukkah, Chinese New Year, Kwanzaa, and other ethnic celebrations. Even if students do not celebrate particular events, it is important to learn about them. In this way, children learn to recognize that even though each culture is unique, there are also many similarities among them. Most importantly, learning about cultures allows children to be more open-minded, less self-centered, and more accepting of differences. It plants a seed that will inspire them to want to see the world and learn more about other cultures, people, and traditions.

MOGHIMI: How can Butimar Productions help you expand this program?

TABATABAI: With the help of Butimar, I plan to introduce the Mini Haft-Seens to as many schools as possible. One of our goals is to get enough funding to organize teacher seminars that would allow educators to begin presenting this project in their own classes. The seminar would give teachers the opportunity to ask questions and see demonstrations of the activity. They would then receive a class kit with all the materials needed to carry out this fun cultural experience. The kit would include a coloring booklet, with historical and cultural information about the Haft-Seen, for each child in the class. It is my hope that all schools would eventually add this project to their curriculum.

We would also like to make the kits available for purchase at selected stores. This will give families the opportunities to experience the fun in their own homes!