If a Picture Paints a Thousand Words…
One of the ongoing challenges that The Teresa Group faces, is to find a way to include the voices of children so that their needs, ideas and thoughts can be heard. This has to be done in a way that does not compromise their need for privacy resulting from the ongoing stigma associated with being affected by HIV. Our Leading the Way program has always used art as one avenue of non-verbal expression. During one series large canvasses were introduced upon which the children could express themselves artistically, tell their stories and educate others about the impact that HIV has had on their lives.
The children loved the idea. During each meeting, the kids diligently worked on the canvasses. While the kids certainly had fun working on this project, the program facilitators knew that the art was also providing an emotional outlet for the kids, where they gained insight into their feelings and expressed their thoughts about living with HIV. Art is a natural form of communication for children, many finding it easier to express themselves visually rather than verbally. One young girl who had chosen not to disclose her HIV status to the group previously wrote, ‘you can still have physical contact with me’. An 11 year old boy who had never spoken about trauma he had experienced wrote ‘hug me’; another child etched out the words ‘life is a struggle’. Along with these messages were those of hope, ‘you are not alone’, ‘never give up’, ‘stay strong’.
The children put their heart and souls into these pictures. The colours, images and words have taught us so much. Without a doubt, the voices of these children have now been heard, as one child stated when asked if she enjoyed the art project, “I did enjoy the art because I feel that it speaks to people about HIV and AIDS and it was made from the hearts of people who have HIV and AIDS in their self or families…I LOVE THAT!!!”
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
