The Thanda Visual Art After-School Program aims to support students throughout various aspects of their life by providing an environment that encourages creativity and supports student’s self esteem. This is accomplished through careful guidance, frequent discussion and positive reinforcement.
Our progressive approach to art in the After-School Program provides students with a holistic, alternative method for self-expression and healing while at the same time presenting them with opportunities to learn skills that may support entrepreneurial livelihoods. The efforts of Thanda and the Visual Art After-School Program are aimed at helping students acquire the skills necessary to raise themselves up out of the downward spiral of poverty and HIV/AIDS.
The Thanda Visual Art After-School Program provides students with the direction, materials and support that are necessary to develop alternative modes or mediums for personal expression. Through intensive study, students are shown how to concentrate on concepts, themes and events, which reflect their own lives and environment.
Planned activities include journaling, storytelling, and writing biographies using visual methods. These activities can serve as therapeutic tools for those students who lack healthy ways of releasing the pressures and struggles they face day to day.
One of the many attributes gained from practicing art and creativity is self-pride. Upon completion of a project, students will understand how it feels to be truly responsible for not only a finished product, but a meaningful piece of art as well. Art students invite peers to observe original creations that were inspired by their personal ideas and made with their newly acquired skills. Visitors are continuously awestruck by the artwork and share in the pride with the art students of their community.
Living in a community with a high unemployment rate, the youth of the area should be prepared for economic challenges. As the year goes on students will become more familiar with various art techniques and will be given a chance to explore entrepreneurial options for livelihoods to help support themselves and their family. In the geographical area in which Thanda serves, students can take advantage of the tourism market. With the students’ passion for art and creativity they can work towards obtaining the appropriate skills and knowledge to begin their own craft business and to enter the commercial market. Thanda hopes to be able to provide the art students with a loan to develop and implement a business plan for the production, marketing and sales of their specific craft. In collaboration with students in the Computer Program, a website can be built to market their crafts and skills online.
Each term we plan various activities for the students to gain a better understanding of the topic being discussed and of themselves. In addition to academic support and art instruction we will be consistently working on raising self-esteem and improving team-building skills. The year’s curriculum will be divided into four concentrations including; Basic Drawing Skills, Visual Story Telling, Personal Exploration, Crafting and Business Skills.
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