Pulse.ng : NGO organises 'art therapy' for children with special needs, others in Kaduna

By Sani Idris

An NGO, Friends Advocacy for Mental Health Initiative (FAM) has organised a two-day 'art therapy' for 60 children amongst which 15 were of special needs.

At the two-day event titled "The Art Xplosion 3.0" in Zaria, Kaduna state, the Executive Director of the initiative, Jecinta Egbim, said the event would help the children learn to express feelings that might otherwise remain unspoken, build resilience and self-awareness.

She explained that the Art Xplosion 3.0 is aimed at building a foundation of mental health awareness and self-understanding while providing practical and creative coping tools through artistic expression.

Egbim, who is also a mental health advocate, emphasised that the initiative's commitment to inclusivity reflected their belief that every child deserved access to mental health support and creative expression opportunities.

"To ensure inclusiveness, we also gave special consideration to children with neurological disabilities such as autism, ADHD, and Down syndrome, as well as those from low-income communities and those managing mental health challenges,"she said.

She added that the event would also create safe spaces for emotional exploration and promoting lasting connections within a supportive community.

Speaking further, the executive director said paintings on canvas were done by the participants (children) in previous editions of the Art Xplosion.

"This year, we took it further by using readily accessible materials like paper to make quils. We want parents to understand that there are other ways they can manage their children both mentally, emotionally and psychologically.

"We want schools to also understand that exploring non conventional ways of learning like art and colouring can also make the children achieve their academic goal,"she said.

Egbim hoped that the program would open the minds of people toward seeing that children with special abilities are not different or difficult.

She therefore advocated for increased access to counseling units in public schools.

One of the partners at the event, Dr Abdullahi Abdulwahab, lecture and psychiatrist at ABU teaching hospital, said when mental health goes wrong, self esteem is been hit.

Abdulwahab therefore said for children with special needs, they have difficulty in integrating into the society or the society segregate them.

He said the event which brought the categories of children together, was to make them feel among and not different from any child.

"They are able to do what other children can do, and that builds their self-esteem, courage and sense of belonging to participate in activities going forward,"he said.

Another partner, Aisha Ibrahim, the Manager for Centre for Accesments and Educational Rehabilitation Zaria, said it takes patience, tolerance and passion to manage children with special needs.

Ibrahim stated that "In reality, children with special needs encounter hardship, but there is something for everyone in this world. If they can't do A, then they can do B because they have talents in one way or the other, it mustn't be academical,"she said.

She therefore envisioned success for the children with special needs like other normal children who see bright future.

One of the children with special needs, Naima Bello, who is battling with down syndrome, said she was very happy to see herself in the mindst of children playing.

"I want to become a teacher, i want to teach people painting,"she said.

Also, Desire Egwemi a primary school children with no special needs, said he was very happy to explore some forms of arts.

"I want to become an architect so that I can be designing house for people,"he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the event engaged the children in comprehensive training sessions on mental resilience using art and practical art creation workshop focusing on paper quill and origami.

The participant-led art therapy sessions at the event showcased learned skills and creative expression into practice while promoting peer support and community connection.(NAN)