In collaboration with V&A Dundee, Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre can share a new video, We Can Ah Kick a Ba, that brings together young people from across Dundee in a celebration of creativity, language and football to mark the start of the men’s momentous Football World Cup.
Filmed within five schools across Dundee, the video features young people sharing a poem on sun safety, as well as saying the iconic phrase ‘We Can Ah Kick Ah Ba’ in the 33 languages that are spoken across the city. The result is a celebration of Dundee’s communities and a reflection of the city’s creativity and spirit of play.
The video’s release also marks the public launch of a new city-wide sun safety awareness campaign timed to coincide with the tournament. Primary school pupils across Dundee are receiving Sun Safe Scotland packs, which include a bottle of Factor 50 suncream and a specially created World Cup Fandana, that can also be seen within the video.
The Fandana design featured builds on an earlier collaboration between V&A Dundee and young people in off-site education in Dundee, who created a World Cup inspired scarf design now sold in the V&A Dundee shop. This next chapter of the design began when retired NHS surgeon Rodney Mountain approached the team with an idea to use the excitement of the World Cup to promote sun safety for children. The result is the World Cup Fandana, a playful reimagining of the classic bandana, designed both as a celebration piece for young football fans and as practical sun protection. The campaign is also being supported by dermatologist Dr Amy Perkins, helping underline the health message at the heart of the initiative.
The video has been launched to coincide with International Day of Play, the opening day of Dundee Play Festival and the start of the World Cup. Marking this occasion, schools across the city will be screening the video with pupils also receiving their Sun Safe Scotland packs and taking part in football-themed play activities.
Together, the project brings design, health, education and community celebration, showing how creative collaboration can support children’s wellbeing while spotlighting the ideas and identities of young people in Dundee.
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 