2015
Mandela Washington Kunle Adewale facilitated the flagship "Healing through
Art" Project of (ICEHA) International Coalition and Eradication of Hunger
and Abuse, Virginia. USA. Healing through Art is targeted toward survivors of
Boko haram (The IDPs in the northern part of Nigeria). It was a fulfilling
moment for me because i had always wanted to use art to improve the lives of
children and adults who are victims of war or disaster. I had a dream of working
in refugee camp as an artist about 8 years ago, thanks to Mandela Washington
Fellowship for connecting me with international organizations like ICEHA during
my leadership program in the US. This is the first Psycho-social rehabilitation
art project in the North-East Nigeria.
Young women with
calligraphy and artistic hands were identified via art therapy. They will be
recruited to make henna (body painting/decoration during weddings or wall
papers and there was trauma narrative session for children also.
Creative arts like drawing, painting and other art forms were used as intervention for victims of trauma and disaster where they received mental healing through art engagement. Art gives these survivors a voice and face where silence is self imposed or imposed by environmental factors. Some of the IDPs made drawing and paintings that depict war, peace, friendship and community building. These IDPs are victims of Boko haram onslaught in the northern part of Nigeria. Many of them have lost their home, family members, children and parents. During this program, they learned acceptance, love, teamwork, compassion and how to create a culture of hope and peace as a community. I'm living and fulfilling my dream through Mandela Washington Fellowship. I look forward to working with more local and international organizations that work in conflict area in Africa and beyond.
Creative arts like drawing, painting and other art forms were used as intervention for victims of trauma and disaster where they received mental healing through art engagement. Art gives these survivors a voice and face where silence is self imposed or imposed by environmental factors. Some of the IDPs made drawing and paintings that depict war, peace, friendship and community building. These IDPs are victims of Boko haram onslaught in the northern part of Nigeria. Many of them have lost their home, family members, children and parents. During this program, they learned acceptance, love, teamwork, compassion and how to create a culture of hope and peace as a community. I'm living and fulfilling my dream through Mandela Washington Fellowship. I look forward to working with more local and international organizations that work in conflict area in Africa and beyond.
ICEHA joins project 3CER-Nigeria to help child survivors with ICEHA's "Healing Through Art" program. Kunle Adewale serves the Creative Director for "HEALING THROUGH ART" program under the auspices of ICEHA, VA, USA in Nigeria.
