Spider-Man helps us to consider what truly makes someone a hero. Is it because they are brave? Do they have super-natural powers? Are they inherently good or is good and bad closer than we think?  These are some of the questions we ask our participants as we explore the themes in the comics, movies, and activities. Spider-Man shows us that being a hero does not mean that you are perfect. He does not live in an expensive home or lead a rich life, in fact, he is an orphan with few friends. Spider-Man is a hero for many of the kids at Thanda because they identify positively with him and his situation. Spider-Man is young, loves learning, struggles with his love life, is an orphan who realizes his responsibility to the world and has to make difficult decisions. By reading the comics, watching the movie and doing arts activities, children become increasingly excited about him and start to really understand his challenges. By relating to Spider-Man, their concept of a ‘hero’ is redefined and children begin to see a hero as an ‘everyday’ person who makes mistakes and faces challenges. With Spider-Man’s help we learn to believe in our potential and create a world for ourselves that is different than the one we were born into.

See children from our After-school Programme meet their hero, Spider-Man in this adorable video. 

If you’d like to become a Thanda Superhero and create opportunities for creative education through stories, and topics like Spider-Man, join our monthly giving group today.