“Art making has the ability to move people along their journey of grief and loss into a more balanced place of healing and hope. In the face of tragedy, the creative process can help re-calibrate a mourner’s life.” ~ The Chandler Gallery at Maud Morgan Arts
What is Heart to Home?
Heart to Home is Walk With Sally’s answer to creatively getting kids to open up about their struggles and experience with cancer. These group sessions are another way to build a sense of community among peers who are experiencing the same things, in addition to strengthening the bond between mentors and mentees. Each activity is thoughtfully designed by artist Drica Lobo to allow everyone to explore self-expression through visual communication. The sessions are meant to help mentors and mentees explore their emotions and feelings in a unique, creative way. Drica involves memories, where participants may face some unpleasant aspects of life, with the goal of overcoming them through the session.
The Impact of Art
Art allows for healing. Working on a creative project not only helps the artist deal with negativity, but also can create an appreciation for positivity in one’s life. Just participating in various creative activities can help kids learn some incredible skills like:
• Learning to Trust
• Learning to Let Go
• Thinking outside the box
• Becoming more Courageous
• Embracing Mystery
• Becoming more self-confident
• Becoming more Creative
Throughout the Heart to Home sessions Drica finds that the kids become “more creative, and are always willing to connect and share with the group, especially with their mentor.” This experience alone is responsible for strengthening the bond between mentee and mentor, creating additional support for the mentee among their peers, and helps the mentee process some negative associations with cancer. This is why Heart to Home has become an integral piece of Walk With Sally’s support programs.
Do you think someone would benefit from taking part in our Heart to Home program? Click here to enroll or refer someone today!
