By Cindy Ogana | Fundraising Manager
Dear Crafts for Cure Supporter,
We are so excited to report on an impactful project that we hope, will be an annual event in our crafts for cure calendar.
Through the American Cancer Society's SOURCE program ( Strengthening Organisation for United Responce to Cancer Epidemic), Faraja received a grant for an amazing project: The Art Master Class.
The idea was to engage the inpatient children at Kenyatta National Hospital's pediatric oncology ward 1e in a one month art master class. The ward accomodates about 28 children from ages 6-13. The Art Master Class aimed to benefit the children by impacting professional sketching, drawing and painting skills as a channel to express themselves. It also aimed at showcasing art as a plausible profession in the future and therefore engaged the services of professional fine artistes.
At the end of the one month master class, four talented children were picked for the final project: a painting of their favourite dream. These paintings were framed and are to be auctioned to willing supporters.The starting bid for each art piece is Kshs 20,000 ( about USD 200)
We started off with a trial class on the 30th of May 2018 to familiarize the children on basic art technology such as primary and secondary colours, sketching and types of paints. The Art Master Class team decided it would be best to incorporated the theme of Hope during our classes so as to ensure the children also received art therapy as they underwent treatment for various cancers. Hope is important for any cancer patient to have regardless of their age.
The sessions were very well received, beyond our expectations. The children expressed a willingness to learn more about art and painting. Since it was their first time being taught art by professionals, it took time for them to warm up to the idea of imaginative drawing and painting instead of copying whatever their friends had drawn. By the second class, the children began to draw and paint their own pieces without relying solely on copying one another.
It is important to note that the Art Master Class was different from our regular art therapy classes. The Master Class worked on individual skills and urged the children to use their own imagination. The classes were also more technical and artistic terminologies were used. The materials were also superior, that is, acrylic paints, poster colours and art paper.
The outcome were these four amazing art works that have consequently been framed and are ready for auction.
Being the first time, we have learnt a lot and are keen to do it again next year. It proved to be a unique way of allowing the children to express themselves plus, it inspired some of the children to pursue art as a profession. However no project is without it's challenges. Some of the children could not work on their own a due to the side effects of chemotherapy treatment. Some were discharged from hospital and sadly, a few succumbed to the illness.
These art pieces are a testiment to the ingenuity and creative prowess of childen who, regardless of the odds, will always joyfully give a piece of themselves in glorious colouring. Each brush stroke represents their determination to fight a disease that may have ravaged their bodies but not their spirit.
We look forward to having another art master class next year
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