Out of the 4 million Syrian refugees who are living in the world today, about half of them are children. Many of these young people are homeless, living in refugee camps, and have had to endure unimaginable trauma. Not only is adapting to a new environment stressful enough, but they’ve also had to deal with images of war as their bodies and minds develop. While a schooling environment could provide these children with safety and a comforting routine, UNICEF estimates that about 2.6 million Syrian children are unable to go to school. As for those who do have the opportunity to attain an education, they end up burdening local organizations that aren’t prepared to handle their needs.
To address this crisis and provide refugee children with an outlet, independent organization Global Humanitaria offered Bader Medical Center’s refugees an art therapy workshop. This event aimed to give refugee children the chance to address the trauma they’ve faced over the years, which resulted in paintings that exude an array of emotions. Some depict hope for the future, while others explore the terror the children have faced in the past and present.
To encourage a better, brighter future for these refugee children, Global Humanitaria is raising funds by selling the art therapy paintings and will also be displaying them in a traveling exhibition called Little Hopes. The exhibit is now on its way to Barcelona, but paintings can be bought online on the Global Humanitaria website.
Global Humanitaria: Website | Facebook | Donate | Buy Paintings
via [The Huffington Post]