Creative Therapy in Honduras

Exchange.

2011-01-12T23:30:00.006+01:00

The universe -

"All is part of one, while one is always part of all."

What a beautiful experience to take part in a postcard exchange between 9 different countries. I enjoy receiving the variety of artistic postcards from all over the world! 25 postcards were cut out of this image and shared with different art therapists on earth. A nice activity, gaining more conscience about how close we all are.

Movement.

2011-01-12T23:06:00.002+01:00

This time I would like to share some impressions of my latest and last activities during my intervention here in Honduras. My work is already coming to an end, while I feel that I have only started to really create a visible effect and impact. Well, this is the way it is many times, I guess. Things never go the way exactly planned and one has to keep up personal and professional flexibility at all times, being satisfied with what there is instead of grieving for the things that haven't been able to achieve.

I never thought I'd be a mother of a one year old child, once I finish this job - nor I imagined to be witness of such a serious political crisis that occurred in this country, reflecting - on a relatively small scale yet very clearly - some of the world's dis-balance all over... The power stays in hands of the powerful - poor people apparently are doomed to stay poor as long as they live and maybe even for several generations...

It's only a matter of perspective that keeps me motivated and optimistically appreciating the efforts and results of my work here, as well as the work of the organization I work for. Knowing that "being poor or rich" can be defined in many ways, I see Arte Acción as a perfect example: Though always struggling on the edge of surviving economically, the members and even the building where the organization is located, radiate joyful happiness, pure sharing, mad creativity and a nice balance between professionalism and informality.

What I hope to have left a little while I was here, is the invitation to all the people I attended at Arte Acción to express themselves, communicate openly and honestly, create with their hands and hearts, using artistic materials, like paint, clay or paper... liberating themselves of pressure and insecurity - gaining hope, clarity and confidence on individual level; trust, relations and communication abilities on social level.

I left some guidelines in an art therapy manual, including about 20 activities and theoretical information, so some of the young people Arte Acción works with, can carry out art therapy's techniques with other youth or children.

La ofrenda a Yaxché

2010-11-26T22:29:00.004+01:00

I have not written anything in a long time. But better late than never, I'll try to update you on my and Arte Acción's actual activities a little bit.

The art therapy manual is handed in to the co-direction of Arte Acción for a last revision, before sending it to the editor. It was quite some work to write such a thing, with theoretical and practical information about art therapy, especially the description of the activities that will be carried out by complete unexperienced people in the area of art therapy, but also by interested psychologists or social workers. Now there's about 90 pages that have to be proven to be understandable and applicable for anyone.

The process of validation will take us maybe 4 weeks of hard work with a group of around 8 persons. I am a little nervous about how and when we will realize this process, as my working contract is finishing at the end of February next year. With the Christmas vacation, this means we have only about 2 and a half months left to work here. Our journey back to Europe is planned for the end of march.

I feel that only a part of the goals originally established can be reached upon that date. “Ni modo.” here they say, like “This is the way it is, there's no way back and we have to accept it.”

Right now I am still busy with accompanying a collective therapy for young women, also I have some young men attending an art therapy process. Finally.

On top of that, the co-direction of Arte Acción is receiving some art therapeutic attention. I prefer not to call it therapy itself, it would be more like a coaching or orientation for them. We talk about (and experience creatively) how to discharge certain energies, exploring some interior feelings and how to communicate these.

The 3 members of the co-direction are charged with too much work and preoccupation. They are investing all their time and energy into benefiting the youth that is being supported by the organization, up to the point of being very tired and not spending time with their families. Even the communication between themselves is not flowing well. Sometimes I ask myself how the youth is going to learn, grow and develop within an organization, where the co-direction is exhausted as an example.

All this has to do with different circumstances. They are trying to do the best they can to maintain their work functional and ideal. The main circumstance that hinders an even flow within the organization, is that they must constantly fight to be able to “survive” as an institution. The Honduran government does not support with even one cent, as there's almost no money for any non profit cultural or artistic movement that would benefit only the population. So our organization, as many others in this sector, depend on donations or products that can be sold for a good price. In order to obtain either donations or quality products, as for artistic presentations and community activities, the organization has to work hard and creatively.

This week they presented a spectacular new drama, called La ofrenda a Yaxché. It counts with gigantic puppets, amazing costumes and a profound story, as an adaption of the Popol Vuh, the Mayan Quiché book of creation. The drama reflects the creation of animals, spirits and humans - and finally tells us about the corruption of men, making the topic fit well into the context of the country and its situation.

Here are some pictures, taken during and after their last presentation.

Some art therapy impressions

2010-10-07T00:17:00.006+02:00

Here's some artwork that clients made during individual and group's therapy. I gladly received the permission to publish these images on my blog.

1. A flower of emotions. Each petal represents a different emotion. The opposite petal represents the opposite emotion. Here's to say that there's no standard opposite. For some people love opposites hate, for other's love contrasts with indifference, the third makes love and hardheartedness a pair. So everyone's flower (star or circle) of emotion, is a very personal one:

2. Another circle of emotions:

3. Here's what somebody had on his mind, thinking about his personal dreams (left) and his day to day reality (right):

3. This is the reflection of a non-verbal communication between two people. One person painted brown and the other orange. Afterwards they painted light and dark green to create the frame:

4. The following three images for a triptych - the artist gave it the name: Cosas de la vida (Things of life):

5. This is one of the results of monotyping - an introduction activity for art therapy.

6. Here's how somebody expresses her fury:

7. Mi corazón de rencor (My heart full of anger):8. Some wishes for the future:

Campamento

2010-08-21T03:36:00.008+02:00

Here are some pictures of our weekend action at the beginning of august. We organized a camp in order to stimulate and strengthen Arte Acción's teamwork. There were about 40 participants. Mostly, they enjoyed the pool and the place in nature - everyone relaxed and played all they could between the activities. All the activities, in order to enhance self- and group's reflection, were based on art therapy methods - or a general training methods, learned at ICCO's preperation course last year.

More Inauguration impressions

2010-06-10T05:43:00.004+02:00

Santos juggling with appleballs...

Practicing and showing Batucada know-how...

Circus activities waiting to be executed!

My new colleague Sharon during the inauguration.

Arte Acción's new location

2010-06-05T02:05:00.003+02:00

Yesterday was the inauguration of the new working space. There were interactive demonstrations of all creativity taking place in Arte Acción... Visitors could learn how to recycle bottles and other material that usually ends up as garbage. They could paint, drum and join the radio group. They could take home their own puppet, made of a paper-bag. Also, juggling techniques were introduced and people could experience how to walk on stilts. I offered a short session, presenting a common art-therapy method: painting on music.

It was a nice, colourful day - with not as many visitors as expected - yet we had a successful inauguration of the new space and a enjoyable meeting with friends and family of Arte Acción. The day was closed by a short but impressive parade in front of the office, followed by a nice acoustic concert, given by nationally well-known musicians. I think, thanks to this beautiful, refreshing day, next week, we'll work even more motivated and as a strong team.
Of course I hope the energy at work stays positive for longer! Maybe I can contribute to that by a retreat that we will soon organize to strengthen team-spirit and -function. I hope we can stay a night close to a national park, near the capital city, to breathe some fresh air and experience our team's abilities and weaknesses - outside our usual working location.
I will try to make a plan for this retreat together with my new colleague: Sharon. She's psychologist and will work as my direct counterpart. I am sure she will attribute lots of important actions to Arte Acción. For a long time, they've been looking for psychological support - for the target group and the team. Now she is finally there! Right now we are still in introduction phase, but I already feel relieved to finally find personal support in establishing the psychosocial component of Arte Acción.

Back in Honduras

2010-05-17T18:52:00.002+02:00

We came back to Honduras as a family on april 23rd. Finally.

Now we are getting used to our old, new space - in new constellation, with new challenges, new hopes and motivation.
Arte Acción has also moved to a new place. Now there is a special room for art therapy only, providing space to work and privacy - at last!
My contract for ICCO has been prolonged another 6 months. I am preparing for 10 months of intensive work, as it is not so much time to complete all the aims that were sat up in the beginning of my contract.
This week, I will finish the installation of our new local. I will discuss my schedule with my colleagues and our target group... I'm looking forward to attend therapeutic processes again. Some of my old "clients" already expressed their need to go on with the experience that was never concluded last year, due to our evacuation.

Politically, the situation seems to have calmed down superficially. But in the end there are still many people who ask for a reform, who finally want their human rights to be respected. Repression and violence is also still going on. Especially where people are actively fighting for their rights, police and private security forces fight back violently. Several people, active in resistant groups, have been persecuted, tortured and even murdered.

Here are some links (alternative to the mainstream media) to follow the actual situation in the country, all in Spanish:
http://www.tercerainformacion.es
http://voselsoberano.com
http://ellibertador.hn/Nacional/3895.html

I hope to soon write more about my personal/professional advance with Arte Acción!

Evacuation & Maternity leave

2010-01-15T16:11:00.003+01:00

Me and my little family (My husband Omar and a big belly by now) came back to Europe in october 2009.
At the end of december, my maternity-leave started officially. Now I am round, waiting for my first child to be born! We will hopefully be back in Honduras around the beginning of april, catching up with work and life on the other side of the big ocean. I am looking forward to carry on with my work as an art therapist. I think the young people who Arte Acción are working with, deserve more attention than ever in nower days. Things in Honduras seem to go on as usual, although last year has been an exceptional one - looking at the political situation. I am not sure if the political crisis is solved now... I'd hope that people get the chance to participate more actively in the democracy, in order to escape the deep poverty most of them live in. I hope there will not be any ongoing violence from any side - neither from the powerful militair nor from the poor rebels. We'll see.

How some artists deal with the tension in the country...

2009-09-28T05:26:00.016+02:00

"In the battalion, they teach us about democracy from behind."

Instruments of repression. "Always have been the same shit"

THESE CARICATURES ARE NOT MEANT TO BE ANY OFFENSE -
- THEY ONLY REFLECT PERSONAL CATHARSIS OF THE ARTIST!

One month or Two

2009-09-15T22:48:00.006+02:00

Finally I find the muse to write some lines again. First of all, I wanted to share some pictures – the last time I wrote too much text. So see below for some impressions of our last visit in San Rafael, which was in July.

And about the past month or two, what do I have to tell you?

Although the situation in Honduras keeps tense and the democratic orden has not been reestablished yet, we try to live our lives as usual...

We attended some concerts of resistance - where lots of artists, national and international, sing, act, play, present poetry or other works – to animate the people and to give a good example of how to peacefully defeat and defend ourselves against the military- / elite- regime that is ruling this country. You can see some impressions of the last cultural events with a clear message: “Voces contra el golpe” (Voices against the Coup)

Right at this moment, the military is celebrating on one side of the city – while the resistant folks is manifesting on the other side. Since yesterday we hear bombs going off every once in awhile. The military seems to be very proud of some old cannons they have – they fired them even in the middle of the night, I woke up by their sounds. It's supposed to be tradition... There's constant helicopter-sound in the air and a little while ago some war-jets circled above the city, showing off their speed and irritating with their deafening noise.

Today, the fifteenth of september, is Honduran “independence day” - usually the military is accompanied by many curious spectators, today they seem to be rather by themselves, most of the people attend the anti-military-manifestation in the center of the city. Arte Acción and its Batucada (Brazilian Drums) is taking position with the people today.

Arte Acción is trying to make this city at least a little more colourful by stimulating the youth to create beautiful arts – and to create themselves in a different way.

Regarding my work, I feel that the ongoing therapeutic activities have a profound effect by now and that my position within Arte Acción is being appreciated more and more. For example, I am given more space and time for various actions – to work with a bigger group of young people, to acquire a better working place with more privacy etc.

Above you see some girls during a latest group activity. Beneath you see some of the girls at their final exposition to reflect on a succesfull art therapy proces:

I am happy about another change in my working atmosphere: Finally we found a Honduran psychologist who works as my direct counterpart since the first of september. Together we will develop groupactivities to treat basic human values and behavior. We'll explain the human development from a psychosocial point of view, making use of creative activities in order to experiment the meaning and importance of having a self-concept and self-confidence; of real communication and reconciliation among other topics...

The psychologist is a motivated young, yet experienced, woman whom I really like to work with. She complements my practical ideas with theoretical, psychological background information and gives the final “Honduran” touch to our common activities, so its content is really understandable for the young people we work with.

I was surprised and happy how well our first activity went last wednesday. Her way of presenting theoretical information is cited by lots of daily-life examples – spoken out in a spontaneous way – she is ready to put herself in the shoes of the youth, using their way of speaking and interacting constantly with them.

I hope Maria Elena, that is her name, will stay with Arte Acción for a good period of time. She seems to be a perfect candidate for carrying out some seriously necessary psychosocial work within the organization.

Visiting San Rafael - July 2010

2009-09-15T18:48:00.007+02:00

The Silent Storm or The Stormy Silence

2009-08-03T18:58:00.008+02:00

Hello everyone.

I haven't written anything for almost two months now. The critical situation in the country had to sink in first, before I dared to talk about the happenings publically... now I do not want to keep silent anymore.
What happened here is terrible and it is still happening. I feel, it is the perfect example for what is going on in the whole world on different scales. A small group of very powerful and rich people control the poor, the uninformed and the uneducated ones in order to receive more power or at least lose none of it - and to benefit themselves personally by repression, creation of hate and stimulation of fear through mediatic propaganda and the use of weapons.
Here in Honduras the example is an extreme one. There is extreme poverty and extreme wealth: The country itself is not poor - only that its rich recources are benefitting a very small group of people.
This group of people, stimulated by and in eager exchange with the shiny capitalism of North America, did obviously not agree with the socialist tendencies of the last and still official president Zelaya. As the caricature below shows, president Zelaya promoted the change of the constitution, which would have given a voice to the poor majority of the country's population, giving them a voice: indigenous groups, farmers, youth, women, teachers, workers in the health sector etc.
But as this could have taken away a little crumb of the mega-super-cake that the elite of this country keeps consuming, action was taken against this socialist president.
By military force -one early morning at the end of june - he was made to leave the country. Some hours later, the parliament had already sworn in Mr. Micheletti as de facto president. This man and his powerful mates are ruling the country still, more than one month after the coup.
Many people are actively resisting and protesting against this new government. There has been much violation of their rights to express themselves. They are limited evento manifest peacefully, to call for the reinstallation of a real democracy. People with a critical opinion towards the new "president" and his followers, asking for respect of the human rights and freedom of expression and movement, have been arrested, beaten, threatened and even murdered.
The local media, owned by the same powerful, rich people - are very manipulative. It reminds me of the Nazi-propaganda before the second world war, that we studied about in school. There's lots of lies and false information in the press. Hate and fear is delibirately created. The local media are denying the coup d'état that took place. The little, critical media have been taken off the air. The big newspapers assure how much peace and democracy there is right now. In the meantime, the military is repressing the resistant people with guns and sticks.
Naturally, the local press confirms that military is only active to maintain order and tranquility. And that the activists are the violent ones, creating terror and chaos.

This is what worries me most. There is a scary polarisation between the people, stimulated by the press. The news only talk about "white" and "red" people. The white ones are the supposed supporters of Micheletti: "democratic and peaceful" - in reality, their leaders are acting like dictators, using military forces to maintain the power. On the other hand there are the red ones, the social activists, by the media known as dangerous "communists and terrorists."

Of course, in the local news they say that there is more people, supporting the new president than the old one. But intern, alternative information states the opposite! The resistence is powerful - there is many people, especially in the rural, poor areas of the country that do not accept this self-named government. They ask for new rules and regulations - written by the people themselves and respected by the powerful. They also ask the actual powerful to leave the country. All these persons of the elite / the so called "bourgeoisie" are known for having exploted the country's recources only for their own benefit during the past decennias. Some little groups of upper/media class people - a minority in this country - without much background information, convinced by the lying media, may be supporting this new government.

Personally, I find it difficult to see a solution to this problem. I admire the peaceful resistence, the movement in favor of respecting human rights and turning into a real democracy. There have been taken many actions - marching, singing, playing concerts...

An extended armed conflict between the people would be the worst. Of course, there must be some who would profit from a little war - otherwise there wasn't so much creation of division and hate between the people.

In the end, I think it is mostly a conflict between rich and poor, once again, dressed into the robes of a "political crisis, socialist / communist movement, democratic approach." In the end, it is as it is always: The rich are benefitting from any conflict of the poor. The more weapons there are sold, the more money is made!

I would love to convince myself that there will be no more violence. There has been enough in only one month of instability. I notice that there is fear. As the activists are feared, also the soldiers are scared. This is what disturbs a lot. Supposedly the military is controling the folks sometimes keeping them quiet, sometimes hitting them brutally - but the military is the same poor folk! I saw the faces of some of them - many are not even 18 years old, they came to the military because there was no other chance to feed the family: parents, grandparents, siblings, uncles... who knows for whose benefit these guys are actually working . I am sure they give little about the fact that they really protect the richest of the rich in this country - they just want to earn money to be able to survive.

Let's hope for the people of Honduras - lower, middle, even upper class - uniformed or not, educated or not - that in the end they stick together: promoting a peaceful, social identity. Not letting themselves destroy by a greedy national or international elite that stimulate the confrontation between everybody.

If anyonelikes more intern information on this topic, look at these sites or articles:

Alternative, informative Blog about plausible background of the Coup:
http://machetera.wordpress.com/

Blogs by resistent folks of Honduras, created in Spanish:
http://honduras-en-resistencia.over-blog.es
http://honduraslaboral.org/leer.php

Artikel und vieeel Hintergrundinformation auf Deutsch:
http://www.neues-deutschland.de/artikel/153741.verhaertete-fronten-in-honduras.html
http://womblog.de/2009/08/08/otto-reich-und-der-staatsstreich-in-honduras/

Sunny Rain

2009-06-11T00:10:00.004+02:00

A time of various thunderstorms, earthquakes and heavy rain falls have refreshened the city and nature around here - yet there's tension in the air. Not only on a climatic level - also politically and even within the same Arte Acción, things seem to be changing... I am not going to dig into the political atmosphere - for anybody interested, please look at http://www.hondurasthisweek.com/national/1131-where-is-the-fourth-box-taking-us

On Arte Acción's level, we are trying to make a plan for the next months, including an official art therapy programme - that so far exists on paper, but only parts of it have begon to be implemented into practice. As you know I started with collective therapy a few weeks ago. Luckily the girls keep coming each week - with enthousiasm and openness to share and experience their personal, creative development process. Now, the reflections go a little deeper. The girls start to talk about personal needs and wishes, about negative feelings, pain, confusion . The last time, two of them made a painting that they did not even want to reflect on.
In another situation I had an individual confrontation with one of my clients, where she suddenly told me all about her past, her difficult relationship towards her mother who never protected her, even not when she was abused by her stepfather. A story, that is not the first of its kind. What caught my attention especially, was that she said that she would like very much to "leave behind" the role of the insecure child. She said she would like to feel stronger and with more confidence towards herself and others.Within the short future, we'll have teambuilding activities, with the youth such as with the adult team of Arte Acción. I am looking forward to work with Sija - a Dutch dancer (and soon to be dancetherapist) who will come to Tegucigalpa at the end of july in order to share some of her abilities within Arte Acción. I hope we will arrange some nice, creative exercises together - to stimulate the personal and social formation of all team-members.
Yes. There are lots of activities planned - ready to evolve in practice.
Me myself, I am reading much and trying to establish my place of peace and rest. This city - especially these days, with much humidity, mosquitos and tension in the air - has quite some tiring effect on me. Often, I have to go running or at least moving a lot - to get rid of the accumulated stress - or hang in front of a ventilator, to keep the mind cool.

El Salvador - Suchitoto

2009-05-22T22:25:00.007+02:00

Last weekend we visited our friends Onix and Cristina. Onix used to be my neigbour in Honduras. Him and Cristina, his Spanish girlfriend are some of our beautiful capoeira mates and friends.

Cristina works in Suchitoto - a sleepy, old village in the middle of El Salvador. With much touristic potential for its colonial style little houses, and a big lake to its side. From Cristina's place you have this beautiful lakeview.

All kinds of animals gave us company : During night huge toads, big bats and giant insects. During the day frogs (in Onix' head), toad-eating snakes, insect-eating lizards and chanting blue/yellow/red feathered birds.

We took long walks around the lake, visiting an amazing waterfall with incredible stonestructures.

We found three wild turtles in their natural habit: Between a little water, plants and mostly mud.

Driving around with one of Cristina's colleagues, we visited wide grassfields and a big hacienda. We heard some stories about El Salvador's heavy history (as war has taken place until 1992).

We also saw some of the present problems: The big lake being conteminated with waste - every day a little more - without any consideration for nature.

At least, in Suchitoto you are able to drink the water from the well - that is a big exception in El Salvador and in Central America in general. My Honduran friend tells me about the times before they started selling "purified water" - everyone drank the water from the tab. Then, in the nineties, there was a cholera epidemic, supposedly caused by conteminated water. Ready, for the purified water business to start!

Ok. For now you have enough to read and I better do not go on about any conspiracy theories, that seem to become more practic each time and less theoretic. What a world! I hope you enjoy the pictures of the beautiful side of humanity and nature!

Best wishes to everyone!

Working. Traveling. Working more.

2009-05-22T22:04:00.004+02:00

Hola Todas y Todos!
Finally a new update. It is already end of may! Time flies by.
I hope summer has arrived for you with all its beauty over there in the North and the West. Here, the people talk about "winter coming soon" - because of the more regular rainfalls and heavy thunderstorms after a hot day. It is funny. We are sweating nakedly, yet talking about winter...

I am still in the settling proces here in Tegucigalpa. Trying to get installed in our new home, getting to know my work with Arte Acción. Things have changed. Only yesterday, we had a crisis-meeting within the organization. The money is getting rare, projects are finishing - donations by international coorporations stop. Evaluation reports must be written, new projects must be formulated - everybody is sacrifying oneself in order to carry on. It is hard to be a cultural, social organization with no governmental help, no ongoing support. When there are projects, everybody needs to sacrifice a lot of energy - to fulfill the expectations of the donators.

Social system is completely missing in these kind of countries. But Honduras is NOT a poor country! The majority of the people is poor - and only some very few families are richer than rich.
Consumism is very present everywhere! The shopping malls and buyingcenters are full of people - the supermarkets have much more cashiers than what I am used to in Europe -and still you always stay in line before you can pay.
When you come out of the market - little boys bid for money. Their eyes half closed , smelling like a tankstation of so much glue they inhaled .
Yesterday one of these boys saw me at a bank machine. It didn't accept my card . When the boy asked me for one Lempira and I had nothing to give to him, I explained that I could not take any money from the bank. He said: "It is because some guys came and took out suitcases full of banknotes of the machine. Now there is nothing left..."
Later I saw the boy again, I thought I would buy him some food rather than giving him cash. He told me he wanted chicken - from one of the American fast food restaurants that are EVERYWHERE: in all colours, in all varieties but with the same crappy food.
I bought him some fried potatoes that a woman sold on the streets. Suddenly there where three boys behind him, big eyes - wanting potatoes as well. Much better than chicken!

I feel that the Arte Acción's mission is very important. The young people we work with could be in the same position - their testimonies tell us that they would hang around on the streets if Arte Acción didn't exist. Through creativity, we reinforce the youth, help them to make conscious decisions - starting for example with their food choice, ending with personal development: We support them to determine dreams and values, personal needs and limits - we help them to take themselves and each other seriously and to trust in themselves. It sounds complicated maybe... HOW can a game or a theater play, a painting or dancing really benefit the human development? Creating self-confidence, stimulating communication - true communication with oneself and real communication with one another.

In the meantime there have been 4 succesfull girlgrouptherapy sessions realized. Its outcome is meaningful. Yesterday we worked out a dramasession -using masks again, like in Ecuador. This time, lots of therapeutical proces took place. The girls are all young adults, quite accostumed to creative activities and reflection. Every girl played with a selfmade mask, expressing a self-chosen emotion. The girls created either a monologue or a dialogue, expressing the emotion reflected by their mask in a presentation of a 5 minutes scene.
During the reflection in the end the girls shared some significant experiences...

I feel that I could relax and get rid o some accumulated feelings
I realize that we easily project our emotions on somebody else, making fun of somebody or getting angry with somebody - instead of searching for the emotion and its reason inside of ourselves
I feel that we need to strengthen our self-confidence, our confidence with others - we need to practice to make REAL contact, also fisically - not only smiling and superficially talking to each other - as if we were wearing a mask always - it is difficult to make real friends
I feel that what I express here is born inside of me and not because of a compromise I have made with somebody from the outside
I feel that here I am free to ask others about their expriences; I feel free to ask "why" am I here; I feel free to express what I like to express.

It was a nice session - I gave my compliments to the group. Openness towards each other is growing and they start trusting in honest contact. Until now almost every one of the participants has shown up to all of the sessions. They are always eager to meet again - some of them said that the therapymoment is their highlight of the week.

ARTE ACCIÓN Presentation in the central park of Tegucigalpa

2009-05-22T18:38:00.006+02:00

GirlgroupTherapy

2009-05-01T01:39:00.003+02:00

We had our first session of group therapy. 5 of the 7 girls that had announced to participate showed up in the end. During the introduction of creative therapy that we had given a few times before, the young people questioned the confidence that exists between them – the facilitators. They said, although they work together a lot – being used to communicate with each other – they do not talk to each other so much on a personal level. Confidence, respect, mutual understanding and acceptance are some of the topics what we want to work on within creative therapy. We had some interesting outcome of the first activity, lots of motivation and participation of the girls – and ability to express themselves! Some explained their experiences more on a verbal level, during the reflection in the end. Others showed some strong interaction and expression during the crea(c)tivity – maybe with less verbal strength in the end.

It was obvious how well it worked to communicate through painting – making contact on paper – on a non-verbal but personal level. Within almost 2 hours of time there were some critical, emotional moments – but all in all we had a good first activity. Hopefully the next will come on regular base – at least weekly. There is surely going to be some creative, personal, human and social progress going to happen!

The boys are going to form a group in two weeks – then we will start therapy with them. Now they are busy, organizing festivals and presentations in different communities: too much work to concentrate on internal communication...

I am happy that Arte Acción – directors, workers and facilitators – have expressed their will and need to work on teambuilding again, to work on the human aspects within the organization. To focus on human development; on internal and organizational development! I am happy to be able to help with this as much as I can. Still, we are searching for a local psychologist who can work at my side, who is interested in learning about the application and methodology of creative therapy. Before we can hire him or her, we have to make sure that there are enough fonds to pay such a professional. Well, there will be – it is just a matter of time!

Traveling - Working - Visiting - Welcoming

2009-04-26T23:09:00.012+02:00

Many greetings once again!

Here I am, in front of the computer - no, not my favorite place -yet I will try to find the right words to actualize you on my activities during the last weeks.

I had been out of Tegucigalpa for more than one week, on a meeting for all Dutch JuniorExperts working in Latin America. We spent 4 days in Roatán, an extra-ordinary place (um nicht zu sagen, ordinär) to meet for work: a Carribean Island. It was crazy. We worked in an airconditioned conference room from 8 o'clock in the morning till 9 at night - or even longer - with half an hour beach per day, after lunch, with our bellies too much filled. The six ladies of us took the meeting very seriously - I hope ICCO is happy with the final report of 20 pages, full of recommentations and conclusions concerning our work here in the South.

After our trip to the Island, I stayed in San Rafael - the project where I worked 6 years ago: my first experience in Honduras. It was beautiful to be there, as always. The trees in this natural surrounding have grown - just like the boys. Some of them have left the project, lots of new faces to get to know. The educators are mostly the same, old/young people - it felt like coming home. I was very happy on monday night as we celebrated a little party: lots of dancing with desperate boys who live in a home without any girls of their age! :) Ayayay... But dancing between boy and boy was neither a problem! Better, rougher, faster! We had much fun!
On tuesday last week my beloved friend, mate and man finally arrived in San Pedro Sula . Oh - his dog might be happier than me to have him back here. We are now trying to build up our together life in Tegucigalpa... I am pleased to have somebody close to share my private life with again! Content, to be with somebody who understands well the local culture, yet actually speaking my mother language fluently. And I am lucky to feel somebody is supporting me, all dedicated to help me find my way during the upcoming year and a half. Yeah!

Today I will be writing and typing, typing and writing -as my work does not only include artistic or therapeutic activities. For example, I am expected to make an official workplan within a "logical frame." That means, the format of the document exists already - all I have to do is to make personal and professional goals fit into the strict columns and rows -adapting them to the needs of Arte Acción, of course. Uff. It costs quite some time and energy.

Green Air / Fresh Trees / Clear Water

2009-04-07T21:40:00.005+02:00

More or less one hour drive from Tegucigalpa, you find this beautiful place - where I tanked some oxygen last sunday - before coming back to contamination. I should go there more often!

Black Boogers / Schwarze Popel / Mocos Negros

2009-04-07T19:33:00.010+02:00

4 O'clock in the afternoon - the sun seems to be gone almost - but it's not. Next to our house, another hill was burning... It is pure SMO(G)KE that coveres the sunlight - and the city! Puh... I tried to do some sporting in the park at night. Afterwards, it felt as if I had sat down, smoking cigarrettes. Luckily, the wind has come today which is blowing some of the smoke away!

Normally, you can see the houses on the hills far away and you have BLUE SKY... Yesterday- no way. This is the result of the season's heat. 33°C in the shadow doesn't even seem so much, but if you feel the burning sun you understand. My dripping wet clothes dried within half an hour. The fires around are devastating. Hopefully the wind of today brings some rain!

Honduras, finally some news!

2009-03-30T23:30:00.015+02:00

Excuses to everybody who has been waiting for some news on this blog. I have been busy coming home in the meantime: Meeting and greeting old and new friends, starting to deal with new responsibilities, getting used to Honduran living again. Now I will share my first impressions with you.

This picture I took from the airplane shortly before I arrived.
The air and countryside is dry at this time of the year. Tonight, after more than 3 weeks of having been here, it rained for the first time!This picture I took from Marie's (my colleague) place, where I am staying temporarily. We could smell the smoke of the burning hill inside the house. Although it might also have come from somebody, burning his waste on the street.
The streets of Tegucigalpa ... after having been to Quito, Tegus seems like a small village: The streets are narrow, the traffic -mostly stuck in slowness- is not as threatening as in bigger cities. Yet, the black clouds that the old American schoolbuses leave behind are unsurpassable.
I am careful on the streets, trying not to step on cucarachas, orientating myself between whistling and kissthrowing men of all ages, watching out not to be followed, recognizing the beautiful blue sky with its colourful clouds during sunset while it is getting dark within minutes.
I walk home from work, wondering about the heavy life of the people here, feeling sometimes small and unworthy, next to the suffering, yet smiling women and children with worn-out feet and clothes - looking at me with big, curious, hopeful eyes.
Still, life in Honduras has a lot to offer!
Even though it looks dry from above, lots of trees and plants reflect juicy fertility!

In the mornings I wake up hearing chants of exotic birds. I get up easily with the sunshine entering the window - looking forward to taste fresh and ripe mango, papaya or watermelon for breakfast. How lucky I am... I feel honoured to be able to work with enthusiastic social-artistic facilitators within Arte Acción. I feel at the right place, when I see their vision and mission of creating a stimulating alternative for people with poor opportunities, believing in their possibilities and strengthening their development.

CREATIVE THERAPY
I have started to integrate myself again within Arte Acción - lots of well-known faces and voices share the day with me while I work in the office.
During these weeks I have been updated by Marie - she is more than motivated - working intensively with her clients, who already have gone through some up- or deepgoing process in their personal therapy. The art therapy room is nicely decorated, there are quite a lot of materials, neatly put into shelves and boxes. On the door, there's Marie's calender - sometimes it is still a struggle to make appointments and really realize them, yet art therapy has gotten a much bigger priority within Arte Acción than before. The attended kids I talked to, seem proud and very happy to be in therapy. There is even a waiting list for more to come, who are longing for this personal, therapeutical, artistical attention.
In a couple of workshops with some of the kids I tried to find out what they know, imagine and think when they hear the word creative therapy. I was very surprised to read and listen to their answers, as they have a good picture already of what our subject is about. (Later in this blog, I will summarize the answers of the youngsters - once I spoke to more of them) Thanks to the continuous work of three years, carried out by CT-students, Art Therapy is integrated more and more within Arte Acción. Me, then Miriam (check out her Dutch Weblog if you want to know more about her internship experience: www.miriaminhonduras.blog2blog.nl) and now Marie (visit her Blog, if you like to read in German www.marieenhonduras.blog.com).

Tobacco is a strong medicine

2009-03-16T19:10:00.004+01:00

I would like to share one last special situation of my time in Ecuador. One weekend we went to Tena, a little village on the Amazonian border. We stayed with a Kichwa family, enjoying the humble, natural and very friendly atmosphere.

Fausto, son of the family, guided us through their personal piece of jungle, introducing us to the beautiful virgin rainforest and some of its secrets. Only one night before we arrived, the family's father had received a treatment of an experienced shaman. In a cleansing ritual he was first bathed with water that had boiled with fresh tobacco leaves - then he was covered by powder of dried tobacco leaves from his head to toes. The treatment took no longer than 30 minutes, yet he felt incredibly exhausted afterwards. He slept all day the next day - we met him only in the evening - he told us he didn't want to eat anything, his stomach was feeling sick.
For me this story was an eye-opener. The shaman had applied the tobacco only externally. The man did not even smoke, swallow or gurgle with the tobacco - but still it had such an impact on him that he was bound to his bed for more than a day.
In his family there is nobody who ever misused tobacco. As Indians, they are most conscious about the strong effect the tobacco has on the human body.
Isn't it incredible how this medicine is used as a daily consumption product by so many people?!
Well, I can tell you that my personal interest in smoking has decreased enormously!
Until now I stand strong as a non-smoker. ;)
Here you can see the tobacco leaves being dried and conserved traditionally hanging within the never ending smoke of the cooking fire.

Latin American Impressions by Ecuatorian artist GUAYASAMIN

2009-03-13T17:19:00.004+01:00

Dramatherapy in Quito

2009-03-11T18:18:00.005+01:00

The last day of our activities passed easily and with visible succes. We „played“ with a group of nine children. Although there were more interested ones to participate, we gave a clear limit and carried out the activity with little disturbance.

We started with a game to stimulate concentration and focussing – on oneself and one another. Only this game obviously showed how much the children are lacking these simple abilities, even for a few minutes. Personal attention is needed – serious and straight forward stimulation towards each child.

After we finished the introduction, while most of them stayed quietly listening, we played a game, learning to express a sentence with different emotional charge. It was good pretending it's the emotion of the mask each child had made and not a personal emotion – this makes it easier for the children to strongly express negative emotions, without feeling personally confronted or insecure.

Then we formed three groups of three children, in order to create some little scenes, making use of the masks and the emotions that they liked to express the most. Fortunately, we were three adults to give company to the three little groups. Ellen, Lily (the teacher) and me.

We tried to stimulate the children to make up a place and situation in which their scene should take place. The three girls of my group soon decided to play a typical family situation. The oldest one played the mother, the other two the daughters. The mother was in love; one daughter felt sad and the other one happy. When I asked why would they feel this way, the mother answered that she fell in love with another man, one daughter said she is happy, because her father used to beat her and now he had left the house – and the sad one felt sad because of air in her stomach - that she got when she went to carry wood for the fire in the forest.

When they started to play the situation, every girl lost herself a bit in her own situation – everyone wanted to carry out the play in HER way, not listening to the others. I told them maybe it is also an idea to create three monologues. One after the other could tell about their personal story – and in the end the public realizes that the stories are all connected.

The girls liked the idea, decided who comes first and who last, then started practicing actively. With much enthousiasm and truly emotional acting they put themselves in front of the imaginary public and practiced...

After 10 minutes, there was the REAL presentation, all the children came to sit together and we were the chosen group to start the play.

This was far more problematic than I thought. After disappearing behind the stage, after various applauses and calling for beginning, the girls were two afraid to show themselves and start... In the end, with much animation and stimulation, they finally came out of the corner – nervously presenting one or two sentences, with great shyness and confusion.

Although the content of the presentations lost much of its former liveliness, it was a big step for these children to stand in front of public – even alone – to receive an applause and appreciation of the others.

This is what creative therapy on a small scale is about. The overcoming of insecurity and fear, the surprising acknoledgement of unknown abilities and strengths.

Workshop+Individual Attention= Paint+Glitter all over

2009-03-04T13:03:00.005+01:00

Our combined workshop of Drama and Art Therapy started two days ago.
As a lot of times down in the South, things did not go the exact way we planned them to go, especially due to a much bigger group of attending children than expected...

We felt quite well-prepared, with 17 plain masks ready to decorate for the children. Of course, in a project where there's up to 80 children each day - it is difficult to decide whom to "play" with.
There are 4 groups, of different ages, accompained by the teachers - we thought we worked with one of them. In the end another teacher didn't come that day, why we chose to work with two groups. We weren't worried about it, as few children of both groups had shown up so far.
But during the day, more and more children came to join us, curious about the other busy painting and decoratoring children.
We couldn't resist to improvise some more plain masks, so that all the children could take part in the activity.
It was chaotic at times, as you can imagine. Especially when on the second day, even more children came to participate and Ellen stayed at home because of a little illness. Fortunately I had help by two volunteers and two of the teachers.
Individually, I talked to some of the children - I saw their joy and happiness, playing with the paint and the glitter, identifying somehow with the mask when I asked them what emotion they expressed.

In the end, we reflected on the activity with about 30 children between 7 and 15 years. Today we will give a clear limit - we will work with only one group - either the older or the younger one, but not with both. Making use of the created masks, Ellen is going to introduce a drama activity - playing some scenes and evaluating them with the children. I am happy to be able to observe today and to learn from her.

Para dar Esperanza (To give hope)

2009-03-02T14:09:00.003+01:00

This is the name of the project, where Ellen is working. From her house, we travel one hour, changing buses twice to arrive at Santa Maria, an area at one of the high city's borders, from where you have a spectecular view of Quito.

The first day we spent at the project, which consists of no more than four LITTLE rooms with a grassfield in front, I got an idea of the working circumstances in the project here in Ecuador. Ellen and I were by ourselves - as it was still carnaval, the children stayed at home.

The next day, it was quite different - as soon as we arrived, LOTS of children hustled into the playing and learning place, hugging me (even as a stranger) immediately and wanting to play. Some children called for attention more expressively -others more shyly- but all of them obviously, only through their fierce and hopeful look in their eyes.

The project hosts up to 140 (!) children, usually there are around 70 attending during each day.

The youngest are only two years old, the oldest are 15 , some of them helping actively to give company to the younger. Most of the children are between 6 and 12.

They come to the project to play, distract themselves, eat a good meal- but also to learn: They learn about hygiene (washing their hands before entering the rooms, brushing their teeth after the food) but the educators also treat typical school topics with the children - helping the ones that go to school with homework etc.

There are only 3 native teachers, besides the North American directrice Ella, who gives classes to the elder ones. One psycologist, one volunteer and Ellen as a drama therapist join the team at the moment. They hope to get supported by two German psycologists soon, as well as some more volunteers, like they used to have before.

As you can imagine, there can be quite a chaotic atmosphere. When we were there with the children one teacher had to give class in the little, little kitchen, where two big pots of rice and beans were boiling on a hot gas stove; the huge flames heating the whole room instantly.

It is very surprising to see how calm the teacher stayed, how concentrated the children (apart from some exceptions of course) worked on little drawings of the Ecuatorian flag. A typical task for children, it is natural to stimulate national consciene - I have seen this in Honduras very often. Also I recognized that all the children were longing for using a ruler. It is not easy for them to create a straight line, yet very important - even for drawing the flag, that could imaginably float in the wind without no straight line. As an art therapist I would analyse the fight for the few rulers that were accessible as some big necessity for structure and control. It makes sense, when children come from a surrounding where they are mostly left by themselves, having to create their own structure and rules of life.

A little while in Ecuador

2009-02-23T19:01:00.006+01:00

Two days ago I arrived in Quito, Ecuador.
I will be here for about 2 weeks to work with my colleague Ellen, who studies Dramatherapy at Stenden University in Leeuwarden, Netherlands. The same school, I just received my bachelor of Art Therapy.
It is the first time that I am in South America. For me it is surprising how similar Ecuador is to Honduras - of course, in my first impression - and compared to Europe, where life is couloured so differently.
It is easy to notice that Ecuador is much bigger - especially Quito compared to Tegucigalpa. Also, it lays 3000 meters above sea level, while Tegucigalpa is located on "only" 1000 meters.
People here seem to be as friendly as in Honduras, lots of them have more indiginous characteristics. Especially in the villages and towns.
Only yesterday we went to a little town to experiment a local carnaval - lots of happy people (men mostly drunk) in traditional garments. Although I expected even some more of traditional culture. It surprised me to visit quite a commercialized event. Expecting to be thrown at with water, flour or rice - we were disappointed through being covered by artificial foam of all flavors. (...) The waterthrowing would have been quite funny, if the sun had given us company. Unfortunately, it was raining - we traveled back by bus, all wet and cold. The view of the beautiful Andes with snow-covered volcanos and infinite grassy mountains that we passed, made up for the bad weather during the carnaval.

The weather here in Quito is quite fresh and often unpredictible. I am fortunate to have carried my winter jacket. When the sun comes out, it is hot immediately. It's easy to feel that we are much closer to her, than in the flat Netherlands or Münster, where I come from in Germany.

Here there's two pictures, one of the beautiful way to the carnaval village (later it was also sunnier) - and another of us, being covered with nasty foam.... Yes, keeping the smile!

Being sent to Honduras

2009-01-29T15:18:00.000+01:00

I will go to Honduras for my first official job. It takes me to Tegucigalpa again . This time ICCO (Interchurch organisation for development co-operation), a Dutch non-governmental organisation, sends me out to work on an art therapy programme - with the Social Cultural Association Arte Acción.

The ICCO-initiative togetthere, which is responsible to keep the contact with all young people working in Southern areas, keeps up the contact with me in Honduras, while I function as a junior advisor for Arte Acción.

It is quite exciting to get an impression of how professional development cooperation is functioning and of course it will be interesting to find out how I function in between all of this.

Until now, I only have experience as a volunteer and student, during two years of living (also) in Honduras. So I am very thankful for this exceptional opportunity, diving into professional Creative Therapy, after having finished my studies just last year. I would like to make the most out of the upcoming time - being conscious about the responsibility and expectations I will have to fulfill during 18 months, starting from now on.

It is like building a bridge between two different side of the worlds, communicating through and with different institutions and organisations. It is a big challenge to communicate in an understandable way, applying such a specific subject as Creative Therapy - working on the BASIS of development; stimulating a healthy social, cultural and individual identity of the local people - in one of the less famous countries in Central America - yet in relation with an international and professional development organisation.