The goal of this project is to facilitate social inclusion of orphaned children housed at SOS Kotayk and SOS Idjevan through art therapy. Funded by the Jirair S. and Elizabeth Hovnanian Foundation, three modes are implemented at SOS Kotayk:
- Puppetry workshop and children mobile puppet theatre. Up to 25 children between the ages of 8 and 15 learn puppetry, master puppet actor’s skills, and perform for approximately 150 children in SOS Kotayk and the surrounding communities. The theatre introduces national values to the children, teaches them to distinguish between good and evil, educates their worldview, and enriches insights.
- Pottery workshop. Up to 15 children between the ages of 8 and 15 participate in pottery to develop motility of fingers and to reduce stress and aggression.
- Sand therapy. Sometimes children are unable to verbalize emotional states, particularly in the face of trauma, neglect, or abuse. Intended for children between the ages of 3 and 15, the non-verbal nature of sand therapy helps children achieve feelings of comfort and security. This method of therapy serves as a valuable and powerful outlet for children and an incredibly insightful method of gaining access to traumatic experiences.
Two modes are implemented at SOS Idjevan:
- Stained glass. Up to 20 children learn the skill of stained glass which uses art media, the creative process, and the resulting artwork to explore feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage behavior and addictions, develop social skills, improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety, and increase self-esteem.
- Arts and crafts. Many types of art forms are used in the arts and crafts including drawing/coloring, painting, sculpting, finger painting, weaving, and collages. This mode utilizes the creative process to help people explore self-expression and, in doing so, find new ways to gain personal insight and develop new coping skills.
