Teaching Visual Arts to Students in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
By working as a volunteer on the visual arts project in Addis Ababa, you can pave the way for your students to learn about the visual arts. With you they will both develop their own creativity and learn the techniques of photography, drawing and sculpture. You will empower students technically and artistically, and thus improve their chances of growing into a future profession. At the same time, you will get to explore this fascinating country and witness the Ethiopia way of life. This project is perfect for anybody willing to explore the whole range of creativity!
This project is a great opportunity for the students on the EEF education program to develop their inner creative skills. Learning about visual arts – painting, sculpture, etc, as well as photography, and being taught to come up with the ideas for a great piece of art work are as important as the art creation itself. This project can give the students an opportunity to pursue artistic vision. Whether they want to tell a story, sell a product or just capture the beauty around them, the project will fulfill their creative vision. Art and photography changes the way you see things. It’s actually quite an incredible transformation to experience. Suddenly you notice light, shapes, colours, textures, people, buildings, trees, flowers… Everything looks different around you when you start seeing the world as an artist.
For photography, volunteers would need to bring their own equipments.
Jissaura has been volunteering on Arts & Design in Rio
Had an amazing experience with Iko poran in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Although I signed up to volunteer for the art and design program, I was essentially more so of a student myself because the students at the program were my age and mostly independent with their studies.
I was accepted and Treated with Extreme Kindness
Jissaura volunteering on Arts & Desgin in Rio de Janeiro
Despite this, I was accepted and treated with extreme kindness even though there was a language barrier. I made some amazing friends with the students who taught me so much about Brazilian culture, Portuguese, and art (as I am an art student myself). The other volunteers who I was staying at the accommodation with were doing other programs where they were actually volunteering. Although I still had a lot of fun at my program and feel as though I made special and hopefully lifelong connections with the students, so to me it was fulfilling.
Felipe, the Director of Iko Poran, and his Family Were Very Nice
Jissaura at Cristo Redentor, Rio de Janeiro
I was staying at Felipe’s home (the Director of Iko Poran), and he and his family were very nice and would check in to see if me or the other volunteers were satisfied with our program placement. We stayed in the neighborhood of Santa Teresa which had a gorgeous view of neighboring favelas and the christ of redeemer. Because the accommodation is so close to favelas, it is not the safest place but if you have common sense and listen to the directors advice you shouldn’t have any problems. I didn’t have any issues and had to commute back and fourth to my program on my own, getting back at night. Remember that if you come it isn’t for a nice luxurious vacation, but rather to make a difference helping abroad. So being able to adapt and work with what you get is essential. My only complain is that I wish I had more time getting Portuguese lessons since I stayed for 4 weeks and only received a week of it. Otherwise everything was good for me and I still got to practice Portuguese at my program. Overall its an extremely rewarding experience that helped me get out of my comfort zone and I would highly recommend it.
- Jissaura, Parsons Design School, New York
Find out more about volunteering on Arts & Design in Rio de Janeiro
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