By Katarina Hablakova | project leader
In Plamienok we help incurably ill children as well as children and families suffering loss of someone close. Having experience the death, particularly the death of someone you love is an extremely devastating thing. Naturally, most people are hopeless and convinced that to get over such stressful situation is the hardest thing in the world. Feelings of disappointment, emptiness, pain or loneliness appear very often. To cope with stressful changes that follow a loved one´s death is a long-term process.
Children express their feelings differently than adults. In therapeutic treatment we try to find the way and help them to express what they feel. If we really want to understand children, it is very important to find the common language with them. One of the best therapeutic techniques used to get closer to bereaved children is Art Therapy. Art is an amazing outlet to support emotional health. In our Centre of Grief Therapy we use literature, drama, drawing, games, etc. to help the children.
In 2017, we started a new therapeutic project - Plamienok drama group for children. As it got very positive therapeutic results and the feedback from children and parents was great too, we decided to keep the project on in 2018.
Nine children and adolescents with similar life experience have joined our drama group this year. All of them experienced death of someone close. They decided to tell their personal story through artistic performance. The result was a wonderful performance named “Colours and Wind – Discover the colours of your life”. It took place in The Slovak National Theatre, on 15th March 2018 and 13th April 2018. From September 2017 to March 2018 there was 17 rehearsingsessions in Plamienok. Creative and therapeutic process was led by our experienced drama therapist from Centre of Grieving Therapy. Simonka who is attending the group and the centre because she lost her mom, said: “We know what we went through, we understand and respect each other.”
Drama therapy brings not only joy and happiness to children but possibility to express what they go through. It is said that the stage is the mirror of human life and it was obvious that the performance really mirrored intense emotions and feelings.
Children participating in the project always looked forward to drama group sessions. They enjoyed the time together, they shared their feelings and what is more they supported each other. Patricia, 14-year-old girl said: “I would say that drama is kind of confession where you can use metaphors.”
The artistic play “Colours and Wind – Discover the colours of your life” was based on our therapeutic book “The Adventures of Ayu and Grof: Wind and colors“ written by Ivan Gómez García“.
The play takes part in atelier – space full of creativity and imagination. One day a windy storm strikes the atelier and children are taken to the desert, to the land of therapeutic story of Ayu and Grof.
The main protagonist Ayu recovered from the loss of her mother. Now she is able to see the colors of life again. She shows her doggie Grof colors although the dogs are color blind.
Story of Ayu and Grof is a metaphor story. Ayu and young actress from Plamienok experienced the same situation, both girls lost their mom. They were hit by a storm and wandering through desert. Now they share their experiences and they help others to understand what children have to cope with after losing someone. They build up hope about life and after wandering through the desert they can see the colors of life again.
Artistic visualization of inner life of bereaved children in the drama is inspirational for all of us. It uncovers the topic of death and grief and increases the knowledge of public about the bereavement process. It is also the way how our therapeutic help can reach more grieving children and families.
Children from Plamienok drama group could find the colours of their life thanks to you and your generous gifts. Therefore, on behalf of all the families and children in our care, we would like to thank you. Thank you for bringing colours to the lives of children and families. Only if we help together, incurable and bereaved children may live joyfully and their lives would be coloured again.
Let´s keep helping them in 2018! Thank you!
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