The Teaching Playground 
Connect. Create. Collaborate

 For lack of a better word, boredom has become a big problem. It’s too dangerous to return to Syria, and there are very limited ways to be productive inside the camp. - Gavin White, UNHCR Jordan External Relations Officer. Collaborative initiatives offer a sense of community, peace and culture to the physical spaces people live. Several humanitarian organisations already have implemented a number of collaborative and creative initiatives for young people in Za'atari, but what is more amazing is the initiatives that have been created internally. As the people of the camp start to create a life here, so does their passions, from doll making to acting groups, the adults and young people have begun to form pastimes and activities to engage with while in the camp. The collaboration of people working together to create a piece of art, or performance is a testament of the community and its ability to put forth hope, culture and engagement in a space.

 

Art Initiative

 

In this initiative, a series of artistic workshops will be aimed at children and young people to learn about expression and collaborative works, providing some concrete reflection of their thoughts, feelings, and stories. Projects provide a safe space that focuses on working in groups to create meaningful artworks. This will address psychosocial issues, while improving the present lives of the people involved and who get to view it, as well as creating an opportunity for their voices to reach out into the world in positive ways.

 

This will be reflective, and expand on the mural initiatives currently engaged in Za'atari.  Through discussions and artmaking, social issues, feelings , their dreams for the future, and their plight as refugees will be expressed through art. This ultimately  brings a sense of community, colour, vibrancy and culture to a stark, beige, hot environment so different from their home. It also provides an opportunity for children that are unable to engage in the schooling there due to work or other reasons. This initiative promotes feelings of peace and hope, and allows young people to share common experiences that are positive and educational, in a time where a lot of their memories are tumultuous and damaging, giving way for a role of building a community. The hope is that this initiative will grow, and there can be murals in all 12 districts of Za'atari, and be transferred to any camp, in order to bring optimism and a sense of peace.

https://joelartista.com/syrian-refugees-the-zaatari-project-jordan/

 

Drama Initiative

 

Ahmed Hareb and his friends live in the Za'atari Refugee camp in Jordan. They film shows in hopes the project will provide entertainment for people living in the camp, but also convey a wider message about Syrian refugees. He says the first aim of the project is to reverse the image of a refugee as simply a refugee, wanting to stand up for life and show that they are working and haven't given up. "Through acting we can also help others maybe, with a smile, and alleviate a small part of their suffering.” This type of collaborative work engages all involved and allows for a positive and entertaining achievement in a setting of uncertainty and anxiety.

 

Using Ahmeds acting as inspiration, this initiative would have groups of young people and students engaging in drama activities and role-playing activities to develop their psycho-social emotional wellbeing. They will spend time in groups, collaborating and creating their own stories; either of past experience, imaginary, or future hopes. They will put these on for members of the community or the school, as well as focusing on working with fear, and providing a new voice for refugees to be shared with the world.

 

http://www.unhcr.org/en-au/news/stories/2016/11/58171c222d8/syrian-refugees-transform-crisis-drama.html

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Examples below of the power of collaborative Art