Capricorn Primary School hall in Vrygrond will be bright and beautiful as artwork is exhibited there this year.
The artwork created by the learners from Grade 3 to 7 can be viewed at any time and may be bought as well. The Butterfly Art Project, an organisation in Vrygrond, teaches art to local children.
This year the organisation’s main focus is training teachers so they can teach their learners as well.
Centre manager Zaid Philander says they are working on the teacher training programme.
“The main idea is to equip teachers so that they know what exactly to take to their learners. The programme aims to help teachers implement art in their classes. We have seen the wonders of art and we would like every child to benefit from it,” he says.
The organisation’s different programmes reach out to hundreds of children and their carers in the townships. They are a group of local and international art therapists, facilitators and others who want to make a difference while promoting transcultural sharing, caring and understanding.
Participants in the organisation’s programmes are taught how to be strong and not to give in despite their situations.
“We have at least 1200 children a week. We start teaching from as young as pre-school. These are not just art lessons but art lessons with a healing process. It allows children to tell their stories and to heal doing that. They also know how to take charge of the situation,” adds Philander.
They believe art and the creative process yield endless healing possibilities.
“While teaching children various art skills (water colour, crayons, clay), they start to develop abilities needed to cope with a modern society later in life and presently to deal with their daily challenges,” says Philander.
“Underprivileged children, like those living in townships, are barely exposed to specific material in order to experience normal, creative childhood development. By offering them paper, brushes, cloth, spray bottles, puppets, rhythm and movement, we enable them to achieve a suitable development maturity for their age group.
“It is impossible for traumatised children to learn, grow or fulfil their potential without necessary intervention, like the Butterfly Art Project,” he says.
The concept of the project helps lead the children to a deeper understanding of change, growth, healing, transformation and the potential for such, in themselves and in their surroundings, he says.V To organise private viewings of the exhibition email info@butterflyartproject.org or call 072 190 2149.
