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Our Programs
CAFAR utilises creative exploration, theatre, and play to enhance the psychosocial well-being of refugees and encourage new perspectives within the community. Through engaging activities such as expressive art workshops, drama performances, and interactive play sessions, we provide individuals with a safer space to express themselves, process trauma, build resilience and reimagine their futures.
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Expressive Arts Programming
At CAFAR Foundation we are committed to improving the lives of society’s most vulnerable. To achieve this goal, we partner with local communities and experts to design innovative multi-pronged train-the-trainer initiatives, that employ expressive arts-based and theatre-centred approaches. The programs designed are trauma-informed, evidence-based and rooted in neuroscience, research and lived experience. Therefore, we use indigenous storytelling, art, mythology, embodied cultural practices, drama, dance and movement, to help individuals safely articulate their experiences, understand trauma and its refracting impact on the self and community. Simultaneously together we explore new ways of thinking, behaving, and empathising, helping communities and individuals live more peaceful and fulfilled lives.
Medical Awareness and Sensitization
In partnership with leading health institutes and researchers, we design programmes that utilise creative modalities such as drama, forum theatre, music and expressive arts, as conduits for knowledge translation to increase awareness, medical adherence and disclosure rates, as well as challenge stigma and misinformation. Simultaneously we work with community leads and duty bearers to change behaviours and advocate for policy reform regarding the sexual reproductive health rights (SRHR) of women.
Creative Exploration and Fun
We are dedicated to advocating for refugees' fundamental right to access expressive spaces as a crucial element for psychosocial support and holistic healing. We Recognize the profound impact of displacement and trauma on the individual and collective and champion the need for safer inclusive environments where refugees can engage in artistic expression, play and communication. Therefore, we facilitate creativity clubs, poetry nights, games and play sessions, music jams, improv classes and support in the donation of artistic equipment.
Theatre for Development (TFD) Community Engagement
Our team consists of specialized TFD practitioners, that use techniques like Forum theatre to engage and educate communities on a wide range of social issues. The process typically begins with a trained facilitator guiding a group of community actors through participatory research techniques, like body mapping, sculpting, and story telling or engaging them in dialogue to identify real-life challenges. Chosen scenarios are then carefully crafted to address specific problematic issues such as health disparities, education barriers, environmental degradation, land disputes, gender inequality etc.
The scene is performed by community members or actors, but it deliberately leaves the resolution incomplete, representing a critical moment of conflict and decision-making. This intentional gap serves as an invitation for dialogue and exploration between the community, providing a platform for all voices to be heard. This approach allows for the collective creation of potential solutions, fostering a sense of shared responsibility and empowerment.
Women Led Workshops
In partnership with leading paralegal non-profits, we facilitate participatory workshops, aimed at empowering women. This is achieved by enhancing their protection of rights, improving their legal knowledge, regarding SRHR, reporting structures, and access, utilization, and ownership of land. Through meticulously planned programming, and engagements with community duty bearers, we advocate for prominent female voices in public positions and positions of power.
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