New talents were nurtured when seven children from Homework Enrichment Life Skills Programme (HELP) were treated to an amazing art therapy programme at Art in the Forest in Constantia Nek, Cape Town this past holiday. The creative juices flowed as they were taught the intricacies of clay art.
Art in the Forest based at the beautiful Cecilia Forest in Cape Town, mentors artists in ceramics and provide children from underprivileged communities access to art and creativity.
Their Light from Africa Foundation gave seven children aged between 12 and 16 years old who attend HELP’s afterschool programme the opportunity of self-expression and tons of fun through a two day art therapy programme during the recent Easter holidays.
Tessa Whyatt, art therapist at Art in the Forest’s Light from Africa Foundation, says, “Art therapy helps with a wide variety of problems. Creativity is essential for children to have a healthy and happy development and through the clay as therapy programme the HELP learners found a different and more positive way to process difficult situations.”
“These children come from disadvantaged areas in the Vrygrond and Retreat area in Cape Town and have never worked with clay before their first trip to Art in the Forest. They have already begun to show great promise with wonderful work,” says Anna-Marie Kaars-Sijpesteijn, Founder of HELP.
“We had so much fun. We really would like to go again in the school holidays and then for longer! Tessa is brilliant and really understands us,” says one of the learners about his experience.
“We are very fortunate that these clay therapy sessions will continue once every week for this term. We would like to thank Art in the Forest for the amazing gift they have given these children and for enriching their lives,” adds Kaars-Sijpesteijn.
HELP is a non-profit organisation that runs daily afterschool programmes, an AMV (Ambition, Motivation and Vision) Club and Holiday Club. Jan and Anna-Marie Kaars-Sijpesteijn won the 2014 Inyathelo Philanthropy Award for Support in Education in recognition of HELP.
If you would like to support HELP either through funding or volunteering, please contact them on 073 271 7806. For more information on HELP, visit www.help-eduprogramme.co.za. Join their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HELPeduprogramme.
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