The Suitcase Project: A model for psychosocial
support of unaccompanied refugee children (2004 -
2006)
Glynis
started this project in 1999 as a volunteer project
with a group of children in inner city Johannesburg.
Recently it has evolved into an innovative art
therapy project based on narrative therapy that
allows children to do art to heal past trauma. The
children come from Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, DRC,
Angola and Zimbabwe. Glynis has worked with art
teacher, Diane Welvering to develop the approach.
A
report describing the project and outlining the
approach can be downloaded (Adobe
Acrobat, 504 kB) here:
The Suitcase
Project
The Suitcase Stories
Together with the children
involved in the project,
'The Suitcase Storytellers',
Glynis wrote a book about
the project. The book tells,
in the children's own words
and through their art, their
remarkable stories of
hardship and longing,
strength and resilience. The
book was published in South
Africa by Double Storey and
is available through
doublestorey@juta.co.za,
or
www.exclusivebooks.co.za,
or
www.kalahari.net.
www.centralbooks.co.uk
is the UK supplier.
The
Sunday Times Alan Paton
Literary Award
In 2007 Suitcase Stories was
shortlisted for this
prestigious award. Download the press release here
here.
.
 One of the suitcases
The outside represents
'My South African life'
while inside the suitcase
are images and objects
representing the life the
child left behind in their
home country. |
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