“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” ―Maya Angelou
At the Congo Peace School, we believe that art in all its forms offers pathways for healing through exploration, expression and beauty, and that creative thinking, fostering curiosity, and asking “what if?” is the way to change the world.
Amani shared about the time he first learned about art as part of the practice of healing trauma. “I learned about guided imagery during a training in Kenya with the Center for Mind and Body Medicine (CMBM) by Dr James S. Gordon. We did an exercise about drawing the river of your life, the ups and downs, and I started realizing the healing power of art and how an artwork connects us to the artist and whoever has experienced anything around. An artwork creates a connection to ourselves and others.” And instead of avoiding emotions and thoughts, pushing them down to fester, “when you connect to yourself, you feel your emotions and think your thoughts,” says Amani, allowing them to pass through you, negative or positive. After that initial training, Amani continues to connect with CMBM for training, to continue to teach the students and staff this powerful way to process and heal trauma.
The students at the Congo Peace School have practiced art as healing therapy, but have never had a professional artist teach them the techniques of drawing, painting, the basics of color, shadow, and upcycling their own school papers to create textured pieces of art.
When a university professor from nearby Bukavu visited the Congo Peace School this past spring, he was so impressed and moved by the school’s mission for mental health and what the students and staff learn about protecting and caring for the earth, he volunteered to teach a summer art class. Amani spoke to several of the students before they began the two-week course, so we could hear their thoughts about art before the training, and then check in with them after to see what might have changed.
When asked how she would define *art,* 6th grader Ambika said, “Drawing, painting, and that’s it.” Ambika signed up for the art class to learn more, to discover new things. She has never been offered an art class before. The only other way Ambika makes art is to draw at school in her drawing copy book.
Fellow 6th grader Mushagalusa said, “I think art is just drawing and I very much like to draw. I signed up for the art class because I am curious and want to learn. This is exceptional, no other school has a formal art class, I am lucky and happy to be a student at the CPS. There is no other way I make art apart from drawing at school but nobody teaches you, you have to do it on your own.”
Their classmate Agisha defined art as “using pencil and color crayons to draw or paint or write like on the walls of our school.* But I didn’t know children like us can do art. I signed up for this class to learn art.” (*The school has murals and quotes around the campus.)
4th grader Nsimire simply said, “I had never heard about art before. I want to learn and discover. I like colors.”
The assistant art teachers have been documenting the classes, and it’s absolutely beautiful to see the students (and several Congo Peace School teachers) learning the tools that will allow them to share their own experiences in new ways.
(The students upcycle their used papers to create textured artwork.)
(Practicing drawing Congo's historic liberation leader Patrice Lumumba.)
(Congo Peace School teachers like Julien are taking the training so they can teach other students.)
We can’t wait to share more stories of their experiences, and what they created, and how that will change how we all see the world in new ways.
“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” ― Edgar Degas
With deep gratitude for your connection to the Congo Peace School students and staff and community. Your partnership is fostering creativity, healing, and long-lasting change.
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