By Anasuya Isaacs

The workshops culminated with the participants making Peace Tiles as a gift to someone who is also HIV+, something that, if the person doesn’t speak their language, would understand their gift just by seeing it.

We brought magazines, colored pencils and paint for them to create their visual gift of love. We let them know that they could use words, phrases, images or make up something from nothing. Anything they did would be perfect. Once they really believed that there was no right way or wrong way, they just let themselves create.

They were so excited by the magazines a real treat because they are too expensive for them to buy. We had to get to stop reading them (unfortunately) because time was limited. We just reminded them of their purpose: find the words and images that reflect what their heart wanted to give away to make a difference for someone else.

They were so focused that the room was completely silent. Every now and again, someone would share about a picture but mostly they composed their gift. Time was not on our side and yet they created gifts that belied that fact. They were so happy with their creations, many made time to make two and one person, Eliza, made four!

Nasipho, who hasn’t yet disclosed her HIV+ status to her sister with whom she lives, had a fight with her and came in to session so angry. She said that she hated her sister and was sure that her sister hated her. In the “communologue”, the group shared ways to heal this relationship, not only for her own health but because this sister will more than likely be taking care of her children when she has passed on. We asked her instead of making her Peace Tile for someone around the world, to make hers for her sister and to give it to her.

In her beautiful Peace Tile full of red ribbons is a quote she found in a magazine, “There’s a big difference between angry words, ‘I hate you’ and character attacks like, ‘You’re such a loser, you’re pathetic.’” Though she didn’t say that she forgave her sister, her whole body had a peace and sweetness that wasn’t there when we met a week before. I am hopeful for what can come and will ask her at our next meeting how it’s going.

Baba had time to make two gifts. One said, “I believe you should never give up on your dreams. Calm and Collected. Add more to your world” while showing images of confident woman and a happy child.

Johnny’s Peace Tile has a lot to say! Though he is blind, he told me the images he wanted and the words he wanted to offer to someone on the other side. He was quite decisive in what would represent him. My favorite collage of quotes he put together says, as advice to someone just discovering their status, “For a healthier you, it’s important to… look for someone you enjoy talking to, someone who still likes adventure.” He has the word GRACE in golden yellow on his because he feels his life is full of grace.

Others shared, “No worries. Good Counsel” “Eat good healthy food” “I Love flowers” and had pictures of gorgeous ones bursting with color. What strikes me about this is that here in the townships, you never see flowers. There are no gardens. The food they eat is full of starch and little protein and very few, if at all, vegetables. Why? This kind of food is the cheapest. Though know what they need, they do not have access to it.

One wishes she had a car so that she could go wherever she wants, all around South Africa. Cars are their access to life out of the townships. It gives them a chance to find and keep work, to see the city of Cape Town, so close and yet a world away; and to know what the world outside their township is like. There is almost non-existent public transportation so tax’s become luxuries and people stay trapped in their cycle of poverty

Look at their Gifts and be moved. What moved the participants the most was the possibility that someone would want to know what they thought and felt about anything. They wanted their gifts to be special because it mattered to the other person and it mattered to them to offer hope and proof that people can LIVE with dignity and joy with HIV. Just look at their faces!

Anasuya

By Frerieke van Bree

Peace Tiles are 8″ x 8″ collages and mixed media assemblages created on 1/2-inch thick wood panel. They are invented by our amazing friend Lars, founder of The Peace Tiles project : a great initiative that stimulates and supports community-based workshops, exchanges between individuals and communities, and the installation of Peace Tile murals in locations around the world.

Peace Tiles are a great way to stimulate self-expression and creativity, deepen awareness and understanding of global issues, make new connections in the world and strengthen existing ones, and promote community service.

Peace Tiles are produced in structured 1 or 2-day workshops designed to engage participants emotionally, intellectually and creatively in a process of “arts advocacy.”

Peter and I organized the first Love to the World Peace tiles workshop in the NW province of South Africa at a very rural and underprivileged school (5 grades in 1 classroom, ages from 6 to 14). Lots of those children had never worked with paint, others maybe once every 2 years. It was such a gift for them (and us) that an American and a Dutchie found their way to their little school with this box full of art supplies. And even more that they would all become part of this global Peace Tiles initiative.

The theme of our workshop was happiness. “What makes you happy? Or has made you happy? What do you dream about?” (things like: my mum, new clothes, my birthday, Christmas, this workshop). 

Even-though these children could hardly understand any English, thanks to the great teacher who translated to Setswana and our drama-skills, the workshop was a great success. First we tried to discover in little discussion groups what activities in the past, at this moment or in dreams made them happy.
With the entire group (40 children) we wrote down what things in general a person needs to live a happy life, to experience happiness. This session provided enough inspiration to write down/sketch their own story of happiness.

After an explanation of the tile as the art-object and the possibilities of paint/paper/glue the children were ready to create their own story on the tile.

With lots of concentration in their eyes, big smiles on their faces and paint everywhere they’ve created some amazing art works. See the results over here!

We want to say a big thank you to Mrs Deitz (Peters’ mum) from New York for sponsoring the supplies!

Our first Peace Tilesworkshop was a great success. The teacher explained to me afterwards how valuable this was for the children. Not only for them to be able to work with arts, but also to think about things they would otherwise never discuss and are very important. The happiness theme gave lots of the children a feeling of appreciation: although they do not have much, they can be happy and appreciate the beautiful things, feelings, moments. The happiness theme also stimulated the children to think about their future and created hope: to have dreams and to make dreams come true.

We love the Peace Tiles workshop!
..and we’ll do lots more of them!

Interested to know more about the Peace Tiles project?
Check out the beautiful Peace Tiles website! Lars (Peace Tiles founder) wrote a  news item about our workshop, which you can find here.

Don’t forget to take a look at our photo gallery!

Lots of creative greetings to you!

Fre