Sya VanGeest

  ~ SEPT 4, 2020 ~ 

Sya is an avid, veteran storyteller, comfortable telling to all ages. She's a regular volunteer in schools, children's groups, senior homes, church groups, special events, and a teacher of the craft of story telling. 
Sya's stories may come from her life experience growing up as a middle child on a farm, or ancient tales with their roots in oral cultures such as the Bible, folktales and fairytales.  She finds many gems hidden in the fabulous body of picture books in her large personal collection, to which she regularly adds current gems found at her favourite bookshore in Guelph, The Bookshelf.
Sya is a founding member of the Guelph GoGo Grandmothers (4Gs) (2006). It is part of a global grandmother movement supporting the African Grandmothers Campaign of the Stephen Lewis Foundation. That, in addition to personal, loving connections to Africa, explains why Sya is currently drawn to stories that originate in Africa. She is part of 4Gs Griots, a troupe of 4Gs tellers who regularly visit schools, seniors homes and churches to dramatize African stories and bring awareness of the great needs of African gogos and their amazing Ingenuity and accomplishments caring for orphans in their community. 
Contact Sya: grandmasya@gmail.com