Therapeutic Arts Program

GAA’s Therapeutic Arts Program, which operates in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, brings together visiting professionals from North America, Europe and Australia with East African cultural workers for collaborative workshops designed to strengthen arts-based programming for vulnerable populations. Programming focuses on visual, music, dance, creative writing and drama to support young people’s self-expression, resilience and confidence.

Participating paraprofessionals have included nurses, community health workers, arts facilitators, social workers, teachers and counselors.

Faculty from several recognized universities, including the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, consistently provide valuable input to our East African leadership team regarding the curriculum and education materials used in the workshops.

GAA has provided small grants for East African “graduates” of the therapeutic arts training program, leading to establishment of a safe sex project for young women in the slums; social/emotional support programming for children with cancer, adolescent orphans, and youth in refugee settlements; and a sexual and reproductive health and rights education project to lessen teenage pregnancies and promote young mothers’ return to school.

Testimonials:

“We get positive feedback about how the program has helped with staying away from drugs, prostitution, and crime. Parents have shared appreciation that the kids perform better in school, concentrate, and connect better to others.” Grace

“The parents appreciate what I am doing with the children. One father told me after I talked to the child, he started attending school…. The teenagers have said, ‘I was thinking very differently before you helped me.’ They say I’ve helped them a lot.” Maeda

Impact Report

·       GAA has trained more than 80 African therapeutic artists providing arts-based programming in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda

  • Provided train-the-trainer therapeutic arts workshops to 40 additional cultural workers, facilitated by seasoned therapeutic arts trainees

  • Reached over 10,000 vulnerable persons