Projects
Arts Face Wars
Psychosocial - 2007
SUMMARY
In 2007, a series of artistic events and trainings were held in several areas of South Lebanon after the July 2006 war to help local communities deal with the destructive aftermath of the war. The project also sought to empower children and young people to express themselves artistically and become youth leaders in their communities.
BACKGROUND
The July 2006 war in Lebanon has had disastrous consequences at multiple levels for all Lebanese citizens - not only to inhabitants of the South. Feelings of fear, anxiety, instability and despair are common among all but inhabitants of the South have had to endure additional burdens resulting not only from the destruction of their homes and infrastructures but also from the presence of more than 1 million cluster bombs scattered in more than 880 sites, which have heavily affected their lives. To date, linked incidents and accidents have resulted in more than 220 injuries and 26 fatalities since the conflict ended, with more than 65 children victimized by cluster bombs. For this reason, innovative approaches in MRE (Mine Risk Education) are highly needed. Artistic approaches through different media such as audiovisuals, social games, drama and visual arts have proven to be successful interventions in dealing with war-related trauma and in spreading safety messages. These methods encourage children’s participation and solicit community involvement, which are important components in working out the psychosocial dimension of the issue and positively reinforcing the required change in behavior. The idea of the proposed art training workshops is to offer children and young people – and perhaps their parents too – basic skills and knowledge of artistic media so that they may use them as a way to express themselves, share their worries, discuss their problems and find workable solutions to spread safety messages. As part of the project’s program, materials produced by children and young people (video animation films, shows, puppets, stories) will be used to sensitize the community to cluster bombs and safety precautions.
TARGET GROUPS
-Young people and children, including scouts and social workers
-Teachers
-Local village communities
OBJECTIVE(S)
Use arts as a psychosocial mediator and a non-violent medium for expression, empowering children to protect themselves from unexploded devices and cluster bomb threats Build artistic capacities among youth leaders, scouts trainers and social workers
In 2007, a series of artistic events and trainings were held in several areas of South Lebanon after the July 2006 war to help local communities deal with the destructive aftermath of the war. The project also sought to empower children and young people to express themselves artistically and become youth leaders in their communities.
BACKGROUND
The July 2006 war in Lebanon has had disastrous consequences at multiple levels for all Lebanese citizens - not only to inhabitants of the South. Feelings of fear, anxiety, instability and despair are common among all but inhabitants of the South have had to endure additional burdens resulting not only from the destruction of their homes and infrastructures but also from the presence of more than 1 million cluster bombs scattered in more than 880 sites, which have heavily affected their lives. To date, linked incidents and accidents have resulted in more than 220 injuries and 26 fatalities since the conflict ended, with more than 65 children victimized by cluster bombs. For this reason, innovative approaches in MRE (Mine Risk Education) are highly needed. Artistic approaches through different media such as audiovisuals, social games, drama and visual arts have proven to be successful interventions in dealing with war-related trauma and in spreading safety messages. These methods encourage children’s participation and solicit community involvement, which are important components in working out the psychosocial dimension of the issue and positively reinforcing the required change in behavior. The idea of the proposed art training workshops is to offer children and young people – and perhaps their parents too – basic skills and knowledge of artistic media so that they may use them as a way to express themselves, share their worries, discuss their problems and find workable solutions to spread safety messages. As part of the project’s program, materials produced by children and young people (video animation films, shows, puppets, stories) will be used to sensitize the community to cluster bombs and safety precautions.
TARGET GROUPS
-Young people and children, including scouts and social workers
-Teachers
-Local village communities
OBJECTIVE(S)
Use arts as a psychosocial mediator and a non-violent medium for expression, empowering children to protect themselves from unexploded devices and cluster bomb threats Build artistic capacities among youth leaders, scouts trainers and social workers