Type of mission

Art therapy exploratory mission, 6-16th Feb, 2020

Where

Kathmandu and Pokhara

Partner organization

Prison Fellowship Nepal

Art therapists

Dr Penelope Orr

Beneficiaries

34 children living in 2 children’s homes in Kathmandu and Pokhara, 40 foster care children in the Pokhara region

Background

An exploratory mission was completed as the first step of an art therapy programme for the children of prisoners in Nepal, assessing 3 possible venues in Kathmandu, Chitwan and Pokhara.

A needs assessment was carried out to develop an art therapy programme for the 400 children supported by Prison Fellowship Nepal’s fostering in the community project.

Children who have an incarcerated parent in Nepal often suffer complete rejection by their wider family and community, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation, poverty and criminal gangs.

An introductory art therapy programme was provided in 2 children’s homes in Kathmandu and Pokhara, enabling the children to explore therapeutic art.

The children helped to weave their artworks together to give thanks for the social support they received from the group activities and explore their aspirations and hopes for the future.

Two further steps were planned for April and October 2020, but these had to be postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. An online mission was not feasible in Nepal due to the lack of information technology and reliable connectivity.

Type of mission

Humanitarian Mission/Trauma-relief and disaster response work

Step 1: May, 2015                                        

Step 2: October, 2015                               

Step 3: March 2016

Where

Kathmandu

Partner organization

Audrey Jacobs Foundation

Art therapists

Krystle Teo, Soong Suk Lin, Lily Claire Soh, Sruthi Sriram

Beneficiaries

35 caregivers and 200 children from 5 to 18 years old

Donor

Background

Aimed at offering trauma relief services and training based on assessments made during the visit, this mission reached out to nuns, teachers and children in three earthquake affected areas – viz. Tinchule, Bhaktapur and Pharping.

The interventions were designed to target two specific populations: (1) trainees (nuns and teachers) who could continue to offer emotional containment and support to the children after our Step-1 mission and (2) the children who were affected by the natural disaster.

For the mission we set these as some of our goals

Type of mission

Humanitarian mission, 4- 11 October, 2015

Where

Kathmandu and 3 other villages

Partner organization

Prison Fellowship

Visit to Peace Loving Home (shelter)

Art Therapist

Sruthi Sriram, Chien-Chien

Beneficiaries

30 caregivers, 150 children (6-16 y/o), 100 parents

Donors

Background

Peer to Prison Fellowship Singapore, Peace Loving Home (PLH) is a faith-based, Non-Profit Body working with Prison Fellowship Nepal (PFN), as part of their Victim Support and Rehabilitation Program (VSRP). Founded to support children of prisoners in Nepal, its primary aim is directed towards rescuing children who live with their parents in prison – either due to lack of resources or because they are too young to leave family, given that most of these children have nowhere to go. 

Addressing these needs, Peace Loving Home caters to the prisoners’ emotional well-being during their time in prison, by providing shelter, nutrition and education to their children. Furthermore, under the Children of Prisoners’ Protection (CPP) Program of PFN, PLH also extends its care to over 300 children of prisoners from several areas, who stay with their guardians/caregivers.

These were some of the following things that needed to be achieved:

• Gauge the scope of implementing art therapy interventions.
• Determine beneficiaries.
• Assess the needs of the children.
• Assess responsiveness and receptiveness of interventions and training among volunteers in a view to equip the staff with tools for better communication and containment, which formed the basis of the Train the Trainer program.

Type of mission

July, 2014 (10 working days)

Where

Godavari

Partner organization

Shanti Rani School, Godavari, Nepal

Art Therapists

Amy Toh, Disha Dutt, Krystle Teo

Beneficiaries

150 students (Shanti Rani students)

8 teachers

3 sisters of St Joseph of Cluny

Donor

Background

During this mission, children were able to explore art materials that they hadn’t explored earlier.

They appeared to develop more confidence when sharing towards the end of the sessions. It seemed to help them get a longer attention span and help them focus during certain tasks. 

They were more expressive towards the later sessions and began displaying a positive and hopeful view of their future.

We were able to provide art therapy to the whole school in a consistent and organised manner.