Context & objectives
WiThe Hmong community are a socially marginalized ethnic minority, who largely inhabit the high mountainous Northern and Western regions of Thailand. The Hmongs have a strong belief system based on animism, shamanism and ancestral worship. Due to war and relocation over several decades, this has affected the community’s social and cultural life. The missions wanted to provide art therapy intervention to teens who are in rehabilitation due to physically abuse, sexual abuse, substance abuse or severe neglect.
The Red Pencil aimed at identifying and train the caregivers of the shelter to continue with therapeutic art with the teens.
Visual journaling was introduced to the teens and caregivers as a sustainable tool to nurture and balance their emotional regulation.
Impact
The following outcomes were achieved:
- Children’s self-confidence was increased, their communication skills improved as well as the cohesion in the group, which are essential steps toward trauma recovery.
- Caregivers were equipped to use creative tools in their work; they were introduced to trauma-informed practice and therapeutic relationship building with their ward.
- A culture and climate of safety and trust was built in the community to enable self-expression without fear of judgment.
Partners
Our gratitude goes to partners Radion International and donors DEME Group (DEME4Life Foundation), Faber-Castell.
