Art therapy project

In the spring of 2019, as part of a long-awaited project, we participated in a series of animation workshops at the Integrated Play Center. The activities were organized by the Tree of Life Association.

The group members were children with special needs and their families. The activities were led by Lídia Berszán and Kata Szabó, assisted by a large number of volunteers. It was clear from the start that the group was operating as a large family, so we were looking forward to the meetings with mixed feelings. Mostly because we were not sure if we could fit into such a close-knit group. However, at the first meeting, we realized that it was useless to worry: the children were very friendly and curious from the very first moment, and the atmosphere remained pleasant throughout the project.

In the six sessions we worked together, we focused on Iana’s adventure. We tried different techniques to present the story we studied: we created animation painted on canvas, pixilation, and shadow play, but we also drew, we danced and we sang, even in rap style. For us, the most significant benefit of the project was the value of therapy: the joy of creation on children’s faces and the way the inanimate objects came to life, proving that animations can truly work wonders.

The film has already been presented to children at Children’s Day organized by the Tree of Life Association. It was a pleasure to see these children, who can rarely walk around the city without attracting the attention of passers-by, but who this time did not show their disadvantages, but their creative side: they created something unique and unrepeatable.

The project was sponsored by the MOL Children’s Health Program and developed by the Community Foundation.