ClayWorks New project plans!

‘ClayWorks Zambia’
Transforming the lives of children with disabilities through clay therapy
 Please see our short video with our plans!    www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Cx2O-bi8zg
 
 The problem
The psychological needs of children with disabilities are often overlooked and this is especially the case in places such as Zambia where knowledge and resources in special needs schools are very limited, and where disability carries a social stigma.
If the psychological needs of these children are unaddressed the impacts of physical or sensory disabilities can be severely  exacerbated: When a child’s thoughts and feelings are not understood and responded to by adults, they experience isolation and exclusion, resulting in a dampening of spirit, loss of hope and distress. This may show itself in quiet withdrawal or ‘difficult’ behaviours; reduces their capacity to live life; experience joy, play, learn and make friends.
 
 The intervention
Training special needs teachers through the one-week ClayWorks practical course designed by Zambia Therapeutic Art is one way to practically and efficiently address this problem. Once special education teachers are trained, they will be able to use these interactive ClayWorks therapeutic skills immediately with children at school. Through engaging  in ClayWorks therapeutic methods, children with disabilities will be better able to find their individual voices and feel better understood and less isolated; increase capacities to play and learn and interact positively with those around them.
 
Overall goal The  ClayWorks project seeks to improve the psychological and spiritual wellbeing of children with disabilities and foster their better inclusion in Zambian society.
 Anticipated outcomes

1. Teachers trained will be able to better communicate with children with disabilities using clay.
2. Children will be better able to express themselves and communicate, fostering relaxation, happiness, capacity for learning, feeling valued and included, more regulated behaviours and friendships.
3. Schools with special needs units will better understand the importance of psychological wellbeing for children with disabilities.
4. Policy makers will be aware of  the importance of  the psychological considerations for children with disabilities and  consider inclusion in  school curricula.

Outputs         

1.  8 schools engaged on the programme
2. 16 teachers complete  the 5-day ZTA ClayWorks Zambia Course
3. 160 children participate in  ClayWorks inputs in school settings
4. 16 teachers complete  ZTA mentoring programme (6 online sessions;  every 2 weeks for 3 months)
5. Evaluation report completed for funders and partners
6. End of project report delivered to Ministry of Education

 
Why use clay therapeutically in Zambia?
 
ZTA trainers are all qualified Art Psychotherapists in Scotland and have been successfully delivering Therapeutic Art training courses in Zambia since 2015.Their  small  operational team, works with commitment and compassion to improve the lives of people who are cast aside in society through poor mental health or disability.  
ZTA is  currently building its training programmes in response to the strong evidence for the therapeutic benefits of using clay and in its suitability in the Zambian context.
The lead trainer for this ClayWorks course is a specialist in the use of clay therapeutically and  is using these skills with disadvantaged young people in her current role in the NHS.
Clay is a material that can be calming and can also be used to express a full range of emotions as well as motor skills development and interactive communication  and fun with peers. Playing with  clay is possible for most children with disabilities and many can use it creatively to make objects.
 In Zambia clay is available locally, mostly for free, so it is an ideal resource for this context.
 
Why locate the training in Eastern Province?
  Pamodzi Ndi Ana (PNA) (meaning ‘for every child’) is a Zambian Non-Governmental Organization in Eastern Province.  It has a long history of collaboration with international NGOs and local Zambian entities, committed to improving the living conditions of children through various interventions such as wheelchair distributions, construction, and skills trainings.
This  ZTA project will draw on its very positive experiences of working with PNA leveraging on their local knowledge of the special needs units and educational systems and their local facility which can be used for training. The  project will focus on further upskilling 16 special needs teachers who have already,  through  PNA’s collaboration with ZTA, completed  the basic ZTA Children and Young People Course. These teachers have had some basic training from ZTA on therapeutic art  with children and young people and know how it can open up and enable their pupils: They are very enthusiastic to build on their skills. They will be trained in  new skills  specifically using clay therapeutically to foster communication and understanding, thereby increasing belonging and inclusion. They will better understand the children as precious people with thoughts and feelings, and the children will feel understood, more included and recognised for who they are.
 
 Why emphasise preparation with schools and online follow up post training?  
ZTA knows that its courses need to be safe, delivered by professionals and evidence based, and sustainable. ZTA has learned from its Zambian trainees over the years, that  a training course needs to be complemented by follow up support and engagement with institutions if   the use of skills is to be maintained. To ensure skills learned are embedded in schools,  liaison with head teachers and follow up online mentoring for participating teachers will be integral to the project.
The current  tried and tested ZTA Mentoring Programme will utilise ZTA’s local Zambian Therapeutic Art mentors. Further, evaluation of the project will feed into the Ministry of Education for Special Needs to support why and how ClayWorks methods can best be embedded in the future curricula for all schools across Zambia.
 


 
 
 
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