ART THERAPY
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.
PROJECT UPDATES
2025
The Art Therapy Project continues at SOS Idjevan with arts & crafts and stained glass.
See the 1Q, 2025 Report SOS Children’s Village, Idjevan.
An exhibition was held of the artwork created by the children!
2024
The Art Therapy Project continues at SOS Idjevan with arts & crafts and stained glass.
The Art Therapy Project continues at SOS Kotayk with puppetry, pottery, and sand therapy for the children living in the villages.
The Art Therapy Project continues at SOS Idjevan with arts & crafts and stained glass.
The Art Therapy Project continues at SOS Kotayk with puppetry, pottery, and sand therapy for the children living in the villages.
Clay workshop at SOS Kotayk for the Art Therapy Fund.
The Art Therapy Project continues at SOS Kotayk with puppetry, pottery, and sand therapy for the children living in the villages.
Art Therapy also continues at SOS Idjevan with arts & crafts and stained glass.
2023
The Art Therapy Project continues at SOS Kotayk with puppetry, pottery, and sand therapy for the children living in the villages.
The Art Therapy Project continues at SOS Idjevan with arts and crafts and stained glass for the children living in the villages.
Some of the artwork created by the children through the Art Therapy Project were displayed at an exhibition at SOS Idjevan.
The Art Therapy Project continues at SOS Idjevan with stained glass and arts and crafts for the children living in the villages.
The Art Therapy Project continues at SOS Kotayk with puppetry, pottery, and sand therapy for the children living in the villages.
The Art Therapy Project continues at SOS Idjevan with stained glass and arts and crafts for the children living in the villages.
The Art Therapy Project continues at SOS Kotayk with puppetry, pottery, and sand therapy for the children living in the villages. The pottery class was able to take an excursion to “Mane Tiles” handmade mosaic and ceramic tile workshop to learn about the details of the production process.
The Art Therapy Project at SOS Children’s Village-Idjevan, November 2022-January 2023.
2022
The Art Therapy Project continues at SOS (Idjevan and Kotayk) with puppetry, pottery, and sand therapy for the children living in the villages.
October-November
Sand therapy as well as sculpting was used at Shirak Marz Children and Family Support Center.
2021
October-December
Pottery, puppetry, and sand therapy continue through the Art Therapy Fund at SOS Children’s Villages, Kotayk, funded by the Jirair and Elizabeth Hovnanian Foundation.
July – September
Continued pottery, puppetry, and sand therapy through the Art Therapy Fund at SOS Children’s Villages, Kotayk, funded by the Jirair and Elizabeth Hovnanian Foundation
April-June
Pottery, puppetry, and sand therapy continue through the Art Therapy Fund at SOS Children’s Villages, Kotayk, funded by the Jirair and Elizabeth Hovnanian Foundation.
See the report of the children that benefitted from the fund HERE.
January – March
Continued pottery, puppetry, and sand therapy through the Art Therapy Fund at SOS Children’s Villages, Kotayk, funded by the Jirair and Elizabeth Hovnanian Foundation
2020
December
Pottery and puppetry continue through the Art Therapy Fund at SOS Children’s Villages (currently housing displaced Artsakh families), Kotayk, funded by the Jirair and Elizabeth Hovnanian Foundation
November
Continued pottery, puppetry, and sand therapy through the Art Therapy Fund at SOS Children’s Villages, Kotayk, funded by the Jirair and Elizabeth Hovnanian Foundation
Puppetry, Pottery, and Sand
February
Pottery classes through art therapy at SOS Children’s Villages, Kotayk, funded by the Jirair and Elizabeth Hovnanian Foundation
2019
December
More art therapy at SOS Children’s Villages, Kotayk, funded by the Jirair and Elizabeth Hovnanian Foundation
November
More art therapy at SOS Children’s Villages, Kotayk, funded by the Jirair and Elizabeth Hovnanian Foundation An event to follow!
October
Art and music therapy at SOS Children’s Villages, Kotayk, funded by the Jirair and Elizabeth Hovnanian Foundation
August
Art therapy at SOS Children’s Villages, Kotayk, funded by the Jirair and Elizabeth Hovnanian Foundation