The OPEN ARTS AFRICA program hopes to further inspiration, education and promise by bringing global artists to the children of Cura and other orphanages in Africa. “Artivists” bring their artistry and skill-set to create workshops for the children, thus exposing them to a great variety of art forms, skills and professions that they may otherwise lack access to. Beyond their conventional academic education they may find a craft that particularly resonates with them as a means of expression or even a possible future vocation, instilling an enhanced sense of pride, passion and possibility in life.
Orphaned children are particularly vulnerable to extreme challenges and psychological effects such as fear of abandonment, lack of hope, self-esteem and identity. Art can be a powerful antidote to such obstacles and is a most positive way to transform one’s difficulties and find one’s voice in the world. It can be therapeutic, joyous and, especially when we tap into a form of expression that we share an affinity with, a great source of empowerment.
It has been shown that we function optimally when both left and right brains are nurtured, creating better inter-hemispheric communication. Furthermore, important physical and emotional release can be attained through expressive movement; dance and acting games, providing tools to help overcome trauma and challenges, and helping us to thrive in all areas of our lives.
Artistry can in and of itself be a future vocation for the children. When a creative talent is fostered it can develop into a source of sustainable income for struggling individuals and their communities. OPEN ARTS AFRICA also hopes in time to help create financial autonomy through skilled, inspired and prosperous artists by creating a bridge to the art-world at large.
People in the arts and media can be great agents of change, and are able to use their voice to generate awareness and compassion in profound and effective ways. Visiting artists are richly rewarded for sharing their work with the orphans. They gain the broadening perspective of a foreign world and receive a refresher course from humanity's best teachers: children. A key aspect of OPEN ARTS AFRICA is that the children are encouraged to teach their guests about their arts and culture. Sharing one's knowledge is empowering and seeds a sense of pride and confidence. It is important for them to learn that their own music, dance and art are just as valuable as that of their guests. In addition, upon returning to their home communities, the artivists are able to spread the knowledge gleaned from their experiences through their enriched expression.
With greater perspective the world is full of possibilities. The benefits of OPEN ARTS AFRICA are immeasurable. Creating a free-spirited exchange of art, skill, life and culture, and enriching all those involved with understanding, perspective, compassion and humanity, this program aims to not just be self-sustaining but self-evolving.
This model can also be opened up to a wide array of fields such as computer skills, sustainable practices, reading, environmental education – indeed any other valuable forms of vocational and self-development that can be shared with the children.
OPEN ARTS AFRICA was founded in July of 2008 by actress/dancer Nicole Fantl. Nicole traveled to Kenya to work with the Cura Rotary Home, an orphanage in a rural area outside of Nairobi. This orphanage is home to forty-nine children between five and twelve years of age.
From Nicole:
My trip to Kenya was an extraordinarily touching and immeasurably enriching experience. It was pure joy to get to know these wonderful children and to watch them relish and thrive under the added attention and sharing of theatre games, painting, photography, dancing and singing. Living at the orphanage further instilled a great passion and determination to improve the futures of these children who would benefit infinitely from more resources. The hands on experience also gave me the opportunity to identify other more pressing day to day concerns and specific ways to best further education, nutrition and sustainability for the orphanage and their community.
The following projects were born of this trip:
Cows and Chickens for Cura
Buying two cows and twenty chickens will provide ample fresh milk and eggs for the children as well as provide an income for the home via the selling of surplus produce. Currently the children receive only a small amount of milk diluted in tea and water and one egg per week within a very protein-poor diet. Financial sustainability is also key goal for the future of Cura and within six months the surplus produce will provide a valuable income. The total budget for this project, which includes the building of a shed and hiring of a caretaker for the livestock, is US$6000.
Free School Lunch for the Cura Public School
The children from the orphanage attend the local public school that has a total of 300 students, many of whom come from very poor families and arrive at school without lunch. How can these children concentrate and learn without eating all day? A budget based on local produce and prices has been put together to provide the 300 children with a free school lunch. We would also like to begin cultivating some of the fertile land on the school grounds to grow their own produce. The total cost is US$20,000 for the first year.
Library and Computer Room
Currently there is no library in the school or community of Cura. As an invaluable tool for these young people's education, we aim to create a library containing local and English language books and a computer room. Computers have already been donated. A portion of the funds have been raised. There remains the need for the final $7000.
Further Initiatives
Transitioning to the Next Step in Life
At the age of fifteen the children must move on from the Cura Rotary home. Within the Kenyan public school system, it is at this age that they will have completed primary school and hopefully continue on to a high school where they can continue to board. Without the invested attention of parents, it is a wish to create an arena for guidance in identifying the best next steps for the kids according to their individual potential and desires, and financial assistance needed to get on their feet.
Environmental Sustainability Initiatives in Kenya
Creating initiatives to further empower this community in an environmentally responsible and sustainable manner is a priority. Working together with the Coalition for a Sustainable Africa, OPEN ARTS AFRICA seeks to develop the implementation of strategies such as the cultivation of the Jatropha Tree for biofuels.
The House Mothers
Seven local women work tirelessly to care for these nearly fifty children day in and day out, including hand-washing clothes, preparing meals, cleaning and looking after them. They have an admirable work ethic and genuinely care for these beautiful children. They receive only about $70 per month and also have their own families care for. Even by Kenyan standards this is very little and an increase in their salaries is justly deserved.
