Developing social skills and preventing violence among young people: an artistic and psychosocial approach
Localisation
Uganda and Irak
Main topic
Psychosocial support
Total amount of the project
80 260 CHF
Duration
2 years
Number of beneficiaries
2619 people
Developing Social Skills and Preventing Violence Among Youth: An Artistic and Psychosocial Project
Building self-confidence, improving communication with friends, family, and the community, and managing emotions are essential life skills that can be nurtured to strengthen resilience in the face of adversity. In Uganda and Iraq, Omoana’s partners use artistic and participatory approaches to support vulnerable children and youth affected by physical, verbal, emotional, or economic violence.
With support from the “Fonds Partage des Savoirs” of the Fédération Genevoise de Coopération, this project addresses key challenges such as:
- combating discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS and against youth living on the streets;
- fighting gender-based violence;
- raising awareness about the mental health of individuals formerly affiliated with armed groups.
A Participatory Process for Practical Tools
At the heart of this project is a deeply participatory and collaborative approach. Social workers, artistic coaches, and former beneficiaries—now mentors for other youth—worked together to develop new interactive sessions. In February 2023, these sessions were presented during a workshop with partners from Uganda and Iraq.
Through discussions, games, and hands-on exercises, these sessions aim to encourage youth to explore their relationships with themselves and others, develop their own resources to overcome adversity, and embrace differences as strengths.
This work resulted in the creation of three manuals:
- Youth Together: a tool for building social skills and promoting community engagement;
- Theatre Together: focused on theatrical exercises to help youth express emotions and build confidence;
- Drawing Together: which emphasizes personal expression through visual art to stimulate creativity and foster emotional release.
Available in English and Arabic, these manuals provide a solid foundation for replicating and adapting these approaches to diverse contexts.
Concrete Impact and Meaningful Exchanges
The participatory workshops and use of the manuals have strengthened the capacities of facilitators and mentors, while fostering mutual learning. By actively involving mentors and youth, the project promotes intergenerational knowledge transfer and the sharing of best practices among partners. Approximately 2’000 indirect beneficiaries—children, youth, and their families—have already benefited from these efforts.
Theatre Forum: A Powerful Tool for Social Transformation
Among the approaches used, Theatre Forum has emerged as a key tool. This method invites participants to interact with real-life scenarios, propose solutions, or experiment with different ways of resolving conflicts. By offering a space for collective reflection, Theatre Forum helps communities better understand social challenges and develop tailored responses.
To receive the manuals, please fill in the form below:
With the support of :
- Fédération Genevoise de Coopération
