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EvaluationAn informative document evaluating the FireMaker Project pilots, click here to download. (PDF download)
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To enhance the psychosocial wellbeing of children in the context of HIV and AIDS, poverty and conflict, through the creative arts.
To equip care workers with creative arts tools in the psychosocial support and care of children.
Creative Arts Therapists have specialised training and skills which enables psycho therapeutic work to occur through the media of art, drama, music and play.
In 2003, Creative Arts Therapists in South Africa responded to the large scale of vulnerable children in need of psychosocial support and care. The ‘FireMaker’ project was conceived to develop skills and build capacity amongst child care workers and organizations working in the field of HIV and AIDS, poverty and conflict, across Africa, using creative arts processes.
The Therapists have identified aspects of their work which will be valuable yet safe for the child care workers to use. These ‘tools’ support and enhance the work the care workers already do.
The FireMaker Project is a series of three day workshops, supervision and mentoring for child care workers. The course focuses on experiential learning and equips participants with techniques like puppet making, story telling, art and clay activities as well as exploring basic child development theory.
The FireMaker workshops have been conducted in a number of regions including the Eastern and Southern Africa Region, South America and the Middle East.
In order to formulate an effective and accessible training programme, which addresses relevant and specific needs of particular communities, we have approached it in the following way:
Once participants are competent in using the creative arts tools they will be equipped to working with children :
We have run FireMaker Workshops in a variety of contexts:
Opportunity for Mental Health Professionals: Beyond Words Workshop
Thursday, 10 May 2012 09:00