Non-Profit Art Organization Empowers Orphan Children in India Through Charity Program
By: Noel Johns | Posted: 05th October 2010
The Children's Art Village located in Los Angeles, CA is a non-profit organization creating an impact by helping orphans around the world connect to themselves and to their creative spirits, through art and music. The Children's Art Village founded in 2007 is going on it's forth year and has already set up sustainable Arts and Music Programs in Ghana, India, Vietnam and plans to include Haiti, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Latin America in their future.
In May of 2010, the organization, in partnership with the Aadhi Arts Academy, launched its first art and music program at the Sevalaya Orphanage, located 1.5 hours outside of Chennai, India (southeast India). Their team of 6 American and 11 Indian artist teachers hosted a week-long program for over 200 orphans. Classes included: painting, paper mache, mixed medium art, mandala art, sculpting, water coloring, mural art, photography, Indian classical & folk dance, American music class and Indian classical singing class. With heavy emphasis on sustainable art and music programs, The Children's Art Village, working with the Sevalaya, has placed a full-time music teacher at the orphanage to teach classical Indian singing to over 1,500 children at the Sevalaya School.
The psychological harm that can result from exposure of children to trauma and abandonment includes post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression and thoughts of suicide, risk-taking and aggressive behavior and substance abuse. A review done by the experts in the field of psychology concluded that there was strong evidence that the use of art and music in children exposed to trauma reduced overall psychological harm.
The organization will be returning each year to the Sevalaya for a special week-long fall program. This will enable American artist teachers to sponsor, travel, volunteer and join local Indian artist teachers to participate in a week of connection and empowerment for all involved.
In February of 2011, you will have a chance to experience the art of the children who participated in the art charity program. The Children's Art Village has been invited to exhibit 45 art pieces at the AT&T Gallery of Children's Art, located at the Sheldon Concert Hall and Art Galleries in St. Louis, MO. Each year approximately 70,000 people walk through the gallery halls. "We are extremely honored and excited about this invitation!" says Mai Lai, Founder and Executive Director of the organization. The "Colors of Hope: Artwork from the Children's Art Village" with opening reception will be held on Friday, February 18, 2011. The exhibit will run from February - May 2011.
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Tags: post traumatic stress, traumatic stress disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, thoughts of suicide