Picturing childhood on paper, in Lebanon
Walid, a young Syrian refugee, finds in art a way to express his emotions thanks to the Back to the Future project
Art, in any shape or form, can transform a child’s life.
For Walid, drawing has become an essential coping mechanism on his journey as a Syrian refugee child growing up in hardship.
The 13-year-old proudly shares his sketches and drawings with his English teacher, whom he received lessons from after he recently enrolled as a student in the “Back to the Future” project.
“Through drawing, Walid discovered how to express his emotions with quick and enjoyable practices, having taken Psychosocial Support and Life-skills sessions – and it has changed him completely! I’m grateful to have played a part in adding value to his life” says Rowayda, Walid’s teacher.
Following the death of his father, Walid quit school at an early age and started working in anything he could find just to be able to help provide for his family.
One day, his teacher asked him to express his thoughts on family members, the seasons, his emotions, and anything else he desired, through illustrations.
With consistent practice, Walid unearthed his passion for drawing. He found himself to be quite good in conveying his feelings and emotional-state through illustrations, even that of his siblings’.
When asked to draw, Walid would visualize the sheer happiness and satisfaction he experienced from this activity. Not only does he illustrate, but he also transforms his sketches into a guessing game along with his siblings and has shown a positive shift in his learning experience.
“I feel relaxed and happy every time I’m asked to draw”, says Walid.
He has found the perfect escape to vent and express his emotions through art.
About Back to the Future
Back to the Future is funded by the European Union, through the EU Regional Trust Fund in response to the Syrian crisis, the EU Madad Fund, and implemented in partnership with AVSI, Terre des Hommes Italy in Lebanon, and War Child Holland in Lebanon.
Related Projects
Related News
-
News 13 October Oct 2021 0921 7 months agoLebanese children get Back to the Future by exploring the past
Expert guides and field trips to bring schoolchildren into the heritage of their homeland thanks the project Back to ...
Lebanon -
News 20 September Sep 2021 1022 8 months agoLebanon. Disability is not an obstacle to learn
How the EU-funded Back to the Future program gave Louay a chance to come out of his shell and express himself
Lebanon -
News 25 August Aug 2021 1038 9 months agoLebanon. Gaining strength through education
Rabih and Maysa, two Syrian siblings living in Lebanon, found a renewed motivation in going through with their educat...
Lebanon -
News 27 July Jul 2021 0900 10 months agoLebanon. The story of a mother and daughter dynamic duo
Noha loves learning new things as much as her mother wants her to get an education: thanks to the EU-funded "Back to ...
Lebanon -
News 23 June Jun 2021 0938 11 months agoLebanon: learning through play with educational mobile games
Thanks to the Back to the Future project, funded by the European Union in Lebanon through the EU Regional Trust Fund...
Lebanon -
News 21 May May 2021 0940 one year agoLebanon: a shade to learn
Thanks to the European Union-funded "Back to the Future" project Kamil, who previously did not attend school, now is ...
Lebanon