An experiential art therapeutic process oriented for the population of refugee children in Berlin. A variety of art materials are provided for use in order to express diverse personal issues in a safe, trusting environment. The workshops are directed by psychoanalyst Andrea Monroy, visual artist and psychologist in training Mariajosé Gavilán and our comitted group of volunteers and translators. Co
ping with everyday life in exile is difficult. These workshops aim to provide containment, relief and practical tools in order to help and accompany these children in their coping with trauma, terror and dislocation of war. By enriching the children’s visual arts language, expanding his/her creative vocabulary we are providing an additional tool for expression beyond verbal language, and/or which will also eventually help the production of the verbal expression. Many times, children don’t have the proper mechanism or capacity to express their feelings, thoughts or ideas through verbal language, specially when confronted with a whole new different culture and language. In these types of situations art is a less threatening means of liberation which will most likely be more attuned with his/her way of grasping the world. It often results easier for the child to identify and project himself/herself from that standpoint. GENERAL OBJECTIVES OF THE PROCESS
°Stimulate creativity and enjoyment through the use of artistic materials.
°Promote personal expression of the participants through the use of artistic materials. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THE PROCESS
°Build a group interaction process which may allow containment, self-knowledge, growth, and personal enrichment for the individuals.
