Expressive Arts is an arts therapy program that runs for 280 youth aged 5-18; including refugee and newcomer youth along with other students having difficulties addressing past trauma. These youth have survived acts of terror such as violence, war and violations of their basic human rights, along with lack of food, shelter and water. Expressive Arts Therapy will allow these students a creative outlet to begin to process what they have endured and integrate into their new environment.

ELL Welcome Centre is asking The Vancouver Sun Children’s Fund for $6,000 to provide an Expressive Arts facilitator to come to identified schools with high numbers of refugee youth who may struggling with trauma, post traumatic stress disorder, homesickness and/or connecting with their new life in Canada. The Facilitator will work with small groups to help them process their emotions through the arts;  dance, sculpture, painting or music.