Project Launch:

"Students participating in Arte por la Paz (Art for Peace) all very clearly learned concrete strategies of dealing with conflict resolution through the project. Students had the opportunity to take ownership of their work in each workshop, and present it to other youth from Costa Rica during the final conference. For the final presentation at the conference, the youth had to come up with a group dance, which required making many decisions together and deciding on a project. It all came together very nicely and they collaborated well - this group even won best dance! Once back in their community, the youth group painted a beautiful mural in the town center as a way to share their message of nonviolence with their community."

 

Arte Por La Paz (Art for Peace) is an ongoing educational series of workshops and activities that explore the themes of Peace and Non-Violence, globally and locally, through art forms such as painting, photography, mosaic, theater, dance, collage, sculpture, mask-making, etc. Fifteen youth ages 12-16 will participate in the workshops as well as additional community members during Arte Por La Paz youth-planned community activities. The formal workshops will take place once a week where we will explore such issues as types of violence, local violence, and the cycle of violence. Additional activities will take place such as a photography project partnered with the San Diego-based non-profit, Outside the Lens, a community mural mosaic on a public building, a community ´chalk for peace´ event, and finally, a national Arte Por La Paz event. Ultimately, the youth will be able to recognize forms of violence in the world and in their own lives. It will also allow them to express themselves creatively. Opportunities such as this are not available in the community of Copey, Costa Rica. Not only will this program keep the kids off the streets and from engaging in risky behavior, but they will also be exploring new avenues of self-expression.