Bulelwa is 35 and works in a South African township. She cares for children orphaned or affected by AIDS. In 2006 she attended HOPEHIV's Firemaker training program, run by qualified play and drama therapist, Lesley Bester, to learn how to use creative arts to help the children she works with to communicate deep rooted feelings. Bulelwa told us 'Now, I can help the children to express their feelings of grief using simple things that we make together like puppets, clay models and pictures which we can talk about. I remembered what it felt like to be a child and feel powerless when bad things happened to my family'.
HOPEHIV pioneered the Firemaker initiative in 2003 in partnership with Zakheni Arts Therapy Foundation, South Africa in response to huge demand for the techniques from child care organisations across Africa. Creative arts therapists worked together to put art, drama and play therapy techniques into a safe training package that equips child care workers to help children deal with the impact of AIDS. This was trialed in multiple locations and successfully reviewed by the South African Institute for Traumatic Stress which recommended more of this training. In 2006, 10 more organisations were trained enabling over 150 child care workers to use the techniques and share them with others. In 2007, more Firemaker trainers will be equipped, reaching hundreds more children.
Read more about creative arts therapy.
HOPEHIV wants to contunue to offer Firemaker training to more organisations. Just £60 will pay for a child care worker to attend the program. DONATE NOW.