THE EVS EXPERIENCE.

FUNDACION INTRAS,VALLADOLID.

Introduction

INART was a project whose objectives were to promote the use of artistic and creative activities in the rehabilitation process of people living with mental health difficulties. Too often people with mental health issues face discrimination and frequently have to deal with marginalisation or exclusion socially and in the workplace. Our firm belief is that the use of art in the rehabilitation of people with mental health difficulties is an effective approach with tangible results.

In this project, two young people, one from Ireland and the other from Italy were taken on as volunteers by Fundacion INTRAS, Valladolid for a period of six months from February to July 2013.

Project INART worked to encourage and enable the volunteers to gain a better understanding of the concept and values of Europe and to empower them to contribute to Europe in an effective fashion.

Throughout the voluntary period, the volunteers were part of a working team where they were given an opportunity to learn from professionals but also given the space to contribute their own ideas, experience and knowledge to the project. The was with an aim towards enriching the project and encouraging their personal and professional growth.

We believe that young people are essential in the fight against the marginalisation and stigma experienced by people with mental illness. With the Project INART we are confident in the positive outcomes for many of the project participants. This in large part due to the enthusiastic and fresh contributions to workshop and activity practices made by the volunteers.

Jane CarterJane has a background in contemporary art. She has a degree in Fine Art Painting from the National College of Art and Design, Dublin, Ireland. Jane has worked as an art teacher with people who have mental health difficulties within a hospital setting in Ireland. She has also lived and worked as a teacher in France.

“Working with adults and adolescents in a very challenging hospital environment has provided me with the opportunity to see the tangible healing power of art.”

Noemi FantoniNoemi has a Masters in International Crime and Justice from the University of Turin, Italy. She is interested in international relations and human rights, specifically ‘fighting for the rights of children and people with difficulties’. Noemi has volunteered internationally before EVS and has worked with children in both Mongolia and Nepal.

‘I study international criminal law and international humanitarian law because it is my wish that the principle of equality will be respected by everybody one day.’

Alex Meade Paint ActivityAlex Meade is an American painter who instead of painting on a traditional canvas, paints on human subjects.

With the help of the volunteers, the users in the day care centre used Alex Meade’s approach on the people surrounding them. The participants were able to look at people they see everyday, and see them from a different perspective.

Chin Faces Activity‘Chin Faces’ was an activity where the participants made faces on their chins. With access to a multitude of materials like felt, googly eyes, coloured paper and glue.

Each participant put together a small face, upside down on their chin and the fun and laughter commenced.

The participants were then given the opportunity to take photographs and to be photographed as a series of ‘chin face’ photos were taken.

Outdoor Painting ActivityThe participants in the activity chose a location together as a group. When they arrived on location, each person took a slightly different angle or scene to focus on.

This was a chance for people to enjoy the outdoors and see their locality from a different perspective.

Afterwards each member of the group spoke about their drawing.Why they chose to draw what they did, which medium they chose and why. This was a chance for everyone to engage in a positive and encouraging conversation.

Collage Portrait ActivityThis activity required the participants to get involved in taking photographs as both individuals and in groups. There were photos taken of the participants in a city setting; in parks, on the streets.

These photographs were studied by the participants who then cut or tore up the photos and rearranged them to make a new image.

Shared Portraits ActivityIn teams of two, the participants each did a line drawing of their partner in acrylic paint. The canvases were then swapped and each person continued painting their own portrait.

Employment Preparation ActivitiesIn this workshop the volunteers gathered the participants and gave them a workshop on the different approaches you can take when putting together a Curriculum Vitae. With the use of powerpoint there was clear instructions and room for discussion and questions.’

Video Forum ActivityIn this activity, a short film was shown to participants. The video forum aimed to promote discussions around the value of community, perseverance and learning from one’s mistakes. For example, a film shown was an independent short film titled ‘The Butterfly Circus’. The activity also exposed the participants to foreign and independent films.

More Activities...There were many other artistic activities. For example:

Kandinsky Emotion Painting: Kandinsky was a painter who was heavily influenced by music. Music was played while the participants drew geometric shapes and passed the sheets to the person on their left who did the same. The rectangle was then cut out and mounted onto coloured paper to make the finished art piece.

Clay Animals: In this activity, the participants take some clay and model animals or figurines. Different techniques were discussed and used by the group and once the clay is dry the participants had the option of painting or decorating it.

Shadow Silhouettes: For this activity participants made silhouettes of their profiles on a piece of paper. Another participant traced the silhouette and once this is done each particpant retrieves their silhouette and fills it with images of things that they like or enjoy.

Pasta Jewellery: The participants used dried pasta to make colourful and fun pieces of jewellery.

Glass Lanterns: Using glass jars, glass paints and tea lights the participants made glass lanterns.

Pointilism: The participants were shown some examples of pointilist art and then proceeded to take on the task of pointilist painting themselves.

InterviewJane Carter:

Q. Tell us about your experience with us here over the last six months. How have you developed? How has your understanding of Spain changed? A. I think my experience changed a lot throughout my time here. At the beginning it was really exciting and fun. Then it got a little difficult in the middle because of the language, overcoming that difficulty was wonderful and it has turned out to be an amazing experience.

Q. Has this experience changed your perspective on the area you want to work in? Has it clarified what you would like to do in the future?

A. Yes, it broadened my perspectives in terms of working for an NGO and the possibilities of working with people around mental health.

Q. What was your best moment here?A. There were a lot, it was good in the day care centre but I had really good moments in the projects department too. I think meeting everybody and getting to know everybody.

Q. And the worst moment?A. Not knowing Spanish, being a bit stuck and feeling a little lost.

Q. Is there anything you want to say to your collegues here?A. Everybody was so open, that was the nicest thing. From the first day I felt very welcome, everyone was approachable and if I ever had a problem I could ask. I just really want to say thank you.

Noemi Fantoni:

Q. Tell us about your experience during your EVS?A. Since I arrived here in Spain, I’ve implemented workshops about film, law and food. Everything I’ve done here has been very useful to me, it has been very different to what I’ve done in the past. It was my first time working with people who have mental illness.

Q. Do you think that your experience here has changed you on a personal or professional level?A. On a personal level, it was very useful. I learned a lot. On a working level also because the activities and workshops I’ve done have been very intertesting but they were not related to my future work field.

Interview

Q. Is there anything else you want to share? Any positives or negatives?A. It is difficult to learn Spanish becausein the volunteer’s apartment we only speak English. Doing EVS is useful and everybody should do itbecause you learn a lot and meet many interesting people. Volunteering is something you have to do with the heart and not the brain.

Photographs coutesy of Jane Carter and Fundacion INTRAS.`with thanks to