Global Alliance for Africa partners with local African NGOs, religious institutions, and community-based organizations to design and implement innovative economic strengthening programs with the goal of enabling communities and households to provide sustainable care and support for orphans and other vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS.
Since July of 2006 GAA has worked to create a therapeutic arts program for orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS in East Africa. The objectives of the program are to train children of all ages in art techniques and specific indigenous crafts, provide a form of recreation, an outlet for expression, and most importantly, a healthy psycho-social context to remember the individuals they have lost.
The musical element focuses on the theory and harmony of music but also the healing and expressive aspects of music to include movement and breathing. The program incorporates a strong component of peace and reconciliation for the children in addition to teaching musical and technical concepts. The instructors work with the children to share aspects of their ethnic identities to help create a sense of peace and unity among the different tribal groups. As many of the children have lost one or both of their parents from HIV/AIDS, the instructors will continue to develop new outlets for the children to express their grief and concerns over their losses.
GAA's objectives for 2009-2010 are to expand the program to a larger group of children; add a visual art component and more focused therapeutic elements to the instruction; and add the infrastructure for helping to make the program self sustainable, in accordance with GAA's overall mission.
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As many of the children have lost one or both of their parents from HIV/AIDS, the instructors will continue to develop new outlets for the children to express their grief and concerns over their losses..jpg){kind=small}