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December – Kwanzaa & Giving Back
- Cristal Tejeda
- Dec 3
- 4 min read
Lord, thank you for the spirit of community, generosity, and love. May we teach our children the values of Kwanzaa and the joy of giving back to others. Amen."
Letter to the People/Supporters
Dear Young Scholars and Supporters, December is a time of celebration, giving, and togetherness. As we honor the principles of Kwanzaa, let’s teach our children the importance of generosity and community, while also giving back to those in need.
Teaching Kids the Principles of Kwanzaa
Breakdown of the seven principles of Kwanzaa and how they can be incorporated into daily life for children.
🌟 The 7 Principles of Kwanzaa (Nguzo Saba)
1. Umoja (Unity)
Meaning: To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
Modern Examples:
Families organizing Family Fridays — one night a week for dinner, prayer, and games together.
Black-led organizations like Black Girls Code and My Brother’s Keeper Alliance bringing youth together to support one another.
Schools and churches hosting community read-alouds to connect children through storytelling and shared heritage.
Kid Activity Idea:
Have children draw a picture of everyone they love holding hands under the words “We Are One.”
2. Kujichagulia (Self-Determination)
Meaning: To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.
Modern Examples:
Black entrepreneurs launching businesses that reflect their culture —
like Telfar, Mented Cosmetics, or Slutty Vegan.
Young creators writing their own books or producing short films to share their truth.
Movements encouraging children to embrace their natural hair, language, and culture with pride.
Kid Activity Idea:
Have each child create a “Name Banner” — write their name and decorate it with symbols that represent who they are and what they love.
3. Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility)
Meaning: To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers’ and sisters’ problems our problems, and to solve them together.
Modern Examples:
Community fridges and food drives in cities like Harlem and Detroit.
Neighborhood clean-up days where families volunteer together.
School groups raising money for classmates in need or community causes.
Kid Activity Idea:
Plan a mini “helping day” — where each child chooses one act of kindness they can do for someone in their family or community.
4. Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)
Meaning: To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and businesses and to profit from them together.
Modern Examples:
Buying school supplies, books, and gifts from Black-owned businesses.
Buy Black initiatives like Official Black Wall Street or We Buy Black supporting economic empowerment.
Local farmers’ markets featuring Black growers and artisans.
Kid Activity Idea:
Set up a pretend “Young Scholars Market” where children create handmade items, trade them, and learn about supporting each other’s work.
5. Nia (Purpose)
Meaning: To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
Modern Examples:
Mentorship programs like Girls Who Invest or 100 Black Men of America.
Artists and educators using their platforms to uplift their communities (like Ava DuVernay, Amanda Gorman, and Tabitha Brown).
Families creating vision boards together with community goals.
Kid Activity Idea:
Have children write their personal “mission statement” — what they want to do to help their family, school, or neighborhood.
6. Kuumba (Creativity)
Meaning: To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
Modern Examples:
Black visual artists, dancers, and musicians transforming classrooms and cities with murals and performances.
Teachers integrating art, poetry, and storytelling into lessons about Black heritage.
Families decorating their homes with African-inspired art and crafts during Kwanzaa.
Kid Activity Idea:
Provide art supplies and ask kids to “design something that makes the world better” — a poster, invention, or song.
7. Imani (Faith)
Meaning: To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
Modern Examples:
Communities holding prayer circles, vision gatherings, and affirmations for hope and healing.
Faith-based organizations supporting youth mental health and empowerment.
Parents teaching children to trust God and believe in themselves through daily affirmations.
Kid Activity Idea:
Have children say or write a daily affirmation such as:
“I believe in myself. I am loved. I am capable. I am enough.”
Games & Coloring Pages
Create a Kwanzaa-themed matching game or a word search on the principles of Kwanzaa. Provide a coloring page featuring Kwanzaa symbols and community activities.
How to create a Kwanza Table
Books that Celebrate Black Generosity & Community
"The Gift of Kwanzaa" by Eric Velasquez
"The Seven Days of Kwanzaa"
by Angela Shelf Medearis
"Together for Kwanzaa"
by Jwand G Ford
Acts of Kindness: Giving Back as a Family
Encourage families to participate in acts of kindness together—volunteering, giving to charity, or sharing resources with those in need.
Parent Suggestions
Consider starting a holiday tradition of giving back to others, whether through donations, service, or sharing time with those less fortunate.
Ending Affirmation"
I am a giver, and I will share my blessings with others. I embrace the spirit of unity, generosity, and love."
These outlines cover a full month of content, with detailed sections that align with each theme. Would you like to proceed with the other months or need further adjustments?
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