The Initiative provides expressive therapies for children, at-risk teenagers, parents, teachers and counselors in the most impoverished communities in Palestine.
Services range from experiential workshops with many different activities and materials, to comprehensive teacher training.
Children learn creative ways to express difficult emotions, mothers learn new ways to guide and comfort troubled children, and teachers learn how to incorporate expressive activities in their daily lesson plans.Summary of relevant work:
- Since the program began in 2013 until 2019, approximately 3000 children, 350 teachers, 180 counselors and many parents and other volunteers have participated.
- Many of the teachers and counselors are now quite independent in facilitating expressive activities within their schools and communities, and parents are using expressive techniques within their own families.
- The program has reached most of Palestine, from Jerusalem and the West Bank, to the Galilee in the north and the Negev in the south. Moreover, it is also now supporting the development of ongoing women’s groups in Bedouin villages, where one village is living under the threat of mass expulsion under the threat of demolition. The program is working to empower the village to stay together as a community after being up-rooted.
Email:
Key partners:
- Arab al-Jahaleen Village
- Khan al-Ahmar Village
- Boston Coalition For Palestinian Rights
- The Theatre Project
- Lesley University
Funders:
- Grassroots Supporters in U.S.A.
- In-Kind Donations from Palestinian Groups
- McMillan-Stewart Foundation
Seeking collaboration with:
Other organizations
Experts by experience/service users
Country:
Palestine, State of
