For three hundred years, ten-year-old Gopal Dyal's family have been master “minakari” craftsmen in the courts of India’s Maharajahs. Minakari is a very intricate style of gold and silver enamel work. Gopal goes to school, flies kites with his friends, and hopes one day to become a master craftsman like his father and his two elder brothers. Their large, extended family lives under one roof, and it is within this environment that Gopal, with pride and accomplishment, is carrying on the family’s creative tradition. When they get a rush order for a New Delhi wedding, Gopal is asked to make a gold pendant for their client.
Hasan Gulam Dhar is a twelve-year-old carpet weaver. He lives in Narbal, a village in Kashmir. Hasan’s grandfather is a master craftsman who has carried on the family tradition of designing and weaving exquisite carpets for many generations. It looked like the family tradition would die, until Hasan began to learn carpet-weaving at the age of seven.
Eleven-year-old Julia Flores Sanabria lives in the tiny village of Cochas, 11,000 feet up in the Andes mountains of Peru. She has been learning the art of carving gourds, a 4,000-year-old Inca tradition, from her uncle Florencio. The Incas had no written language and used gourds to record their legends and history. Florencio decides that Julia is now ready to carve a gourd telling the story of her own life. Proudly, she takes it to the Sunday market in Huancayo, where hundreds of people come to buy food, flowers, woven rugs, ponchos, colourfully embroidered cloth and, of course, the beautifully carved gourds for which Cochas is famous all over the world.
Francescos Leminos is fourteen years old. He lives on the Greek island of Sifnos and wants to become a master potter like his father before him. Since his father died, his uncles - both of whom are also masters - are teaching him. Francescos decides that he is going to make a pair of clay candlesticks as a gift to his tiny, one room local church, which is celebrating its Patron Saint's Day.
Jafar Eskarbaksh is fourteen years old. During his school break, he learns how to make the special blue tiles that are needed to restore the ancient dome of Oljaytu Mausoleum, in the North-West desert of Iran. The 672-year-old tomb stands in the centre of Jafar’s village of Soltaniyeh. The art and chemistry of making the special blue glazes that seem to shimmer in the desert light was lost for many years.
For over 2,500 years, wooden sailboats called dhows have been built in Zanzibar to carry cargoes of cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon from the “Spice Island” to the ports of East Africa, India and China. This is the story of fourteen-year-old Silima Juma, who begins his apprenticeship to a master dhow builder during his school vacation. If dhows are well made and maintained, they can last for eighty or even 100 years. The sun, palm trees and wide beaches make a spectacular setting for the joyous launching of the sixty-foot dhows, in celebrations involving the entire village.
Steffan is a sixteen-year-old violinist who, like his father and grandfather, is learning to be a violin maker. While at school in Germany, he is learning to make and play his first violin.
Amy Hobb is a thirteen-year-old award-winning photographer from Florida. Taught by her father, Amy does ‘hard edge photography’. Amy and her father have been invited to exhibit their work at the annual art festival in St. Augustine, and Amy begins to photograph, develop, and print pictures in preparation. At the festival, Amy enjoys the parade which commemorates the founding of St. Augustine by the Spanish 400 years ago. She also nervously awaits the decision of the judges, who will award prizes for the best work.
Sixteen-year-old Valerie Foucault lives in Chartres, France, the city whose cathedral has the most renowned stained-glass windows in the world. Valerie is apprenticed to Monsieur Juteau, a master craftsman of stained glass, to whom she must demonstrate her skill as she makes her first solo window ever.
Ming-oi Kwan is a sixteen-year-old magician’s assistant. She lives in Hong Kong, goes to school and, in her free time, she learns the fascinating secrets of Chinese magic from seventy-two-year-old Mr. Wong. Mr. Wong is a wizard, always ready to perform and share seemingly miraculous illusions.
Sixteen-year-old Serama lives in Bali, where his father his teaching him the ancient art of Balinese dance, combining mythology, theatre and music.
Fifteen-year-old Lee Nakhampa and her mother live in the small village of Bor Sang, in Thailand. They are poor, though they earn a living by making and painting the lovely handmade paper and linen parasols that attract many tourists to the village. Lee has decided that, as a special gift for her cousin, who is a Buddhist monk, she will make a beautiful original parasol. She will present it to him on the one festival day of the year when monks are permitted to receive personal gifts.
Thirteen-year-old Yoshiko Fujimoto lives in the central mountains of Japan in the village of Obara-Mura, in an area traditionally known for its handmade paper. It’s one of Japan’s oldest creative forms. In Obara-Mura, a special form is practised: virtually painting with coloured paper. Yoshiko has been learning in school, and her teacher, recognizing her fine potential, introduces her to the local master, Mr. Ando. He agrees to work with her on a trial basis.
Fourteen-year-old Gilberto Leopoldo lives in Salcaja, in the central mountains of Guatemala. He is learning the traditional Guatemalan art of weaving beautifully coloured materials. He is apprenticing with his father, Don Jose, who is himself a master craftsman. Gilberto has always dreamed of visiting the Mayan city of Tikal, still full of ancient ruins and the glory of the now dead civilization of his ancestors. The Leopoldos are not well off and Don Jose finally agrees that if Gilberto himself weaves a piece of cloth good enough to sell in the market, they can use the money for the journey.
Lena Sundberg is seventeen years old. She lives with her girlfriend Eva in Orrefors, in southern Sweden, where both are learning glass -blowing at the world- famous Orrefors Glassworks. Lena takes pride in being part of the ancient tradition of glass -blowing and hopes one day to create beautiful works. Lena’s parents live in Stockholm and want her to finish university first. Lena must make a big decision when they come to visit Orrefors.
Sixteen-year-old Igor Lang is a stable boy at the renowned Lipica stud farm in Yugoslavia. For two years, he has been learning to ride and train the white dancing stallions Lipica is known for. It is the 400th anniversary of the farm, and Igor hopes to ride in a special performance during the celebrations. Unfortunately, Igor’s horse Maestozo has been hurt due to Igor’s negligence, and participation is at risk.
Twelve-year-old Anessi Ahoafi lives on one of the beautiful South Pacific tropical islands in the Kingdom of Tonga. She is learning to make the traditional tapa cloth Tonga is known for. Anessi learns from her mother and aunt, as they did from their mothers and aunts before them, to make tapa cloth from the bark of the mulberry tree. Her cousin’s wedding is approaching, and Anessi is anxious to create a beautiful piece for her as a wedding gift.
Fifteen-year-old Joshua lives above Canada's Arctic circle in Povungnituk. He is apprenticing to become a master carver.
Seventeen-year-old Kathy lives in Australia with her family, a long line of farmers and accomplished horse breeders. When Kathy's favourite horse Alchemy suffers an injury, Kathy steps up her efforts to take her across the finish line.
Meet Kurtis, a twelve-year-old from a family famous in Hollywood for stunt work in films and TV. Kurtis is already quite skilled and learning more while keeping up with his schoolwork.
Twelve-year-old Laroussi lives in the ancient Moroccan city of Fez, where he works as a brass and copper apprentice. Laroussi confesses to his father that his true love is horses and that he would like to learn saddle making. A surprise ensues!
Sixteen-year-old Richard begins to take an interest in his indigenous heritage when his father is commissioned to carve a 30-foot totem pole for the University campus in Vancouver.
Sixteen-year-old Shao Ping, a member of the Shanghai Acrobatic Team, rehearses new routines for a tour of Japan.
Twelve-year-old Tanya Nicolev lives in Moscow. She is fascinated with puppets and, after seeing a wonderful performance at the famous Sergei Abratzsov Puppet Theatre, she is determined to study puppetry. She is interviewed by Mr. Abratzsov himself and is selected for a workshop the theatre holds each year, where young people work with a master puppeteer.
Fifteen-year-old Yang-Xun lives in central China, where he hopes to become an accomplished peasant painter.
Twelve-year-old Yohannes lives in Ethiopia. He would like to be a doctor one day. To help pay for his education, he begins to apprentice with a master metalsmith.