Studies show that kids who engage in art classes improve academically. As part of our work with families affected by incarceration, we are offering Art Classes for kids between the ages of 8 and 15 years.
Join us on Wednesday the 7th of June at 4pm for our Open Day - come and see what the class is about before you sign up!
Each child that registers receives their very own art kit that they can use in the class and to practice at home.
Contact us at angeltree.qld@prisonfellowship.org.au for more information
Many children abandon art around the age of ten since they become aware that their work doesn’t look realistic enough for them. However, children that are given the opportunity to learn fundamental skills at this age make incredible progress. Reports and research papers demonstrate that pupils with strong artistic skills surpass students with minimal art involvement. Subjects unrelated to art are quite substantially enhanced, including mathematics and problem solving. These kids also develop a sense of confidence by creating something tangible with their hands. (https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED435581.pdf)
Camp for Kids gives children the chance to learn healthy behaviours, and how to make wise choices.
“Most of the kids do not have a positive male figure in their life. So on camp, they actually see men and women who don’t shout, don’t hit, are loving, that will cry with them and befriend them. It’s often very different from the lives they’ve got at home. We’re actually talking to them. We’re loving them through their difficult behaviours. We’re giving them better options to make different choices. We’re demonstrating forgiveness to them. We do all those things that they don’t see at home.” - Anne*, Camp leader.
Children are often very withdrawn when they first come to camp. As our volunteer, Anne*, says, “They’re very closed books... they face so many challenges. Bullying at school is common because people label them if they find out they’ve got a parent in prison. So they find it very hard to know who they can trust. But at camp, they get the message of hope poured into them. They get to see God’s love in action.”
Social Media Links