The Shelter Homes project is an initiative aimed at providing support and resources to children living in orphanages and shelter homes. The project focuses on using Storytelling, TADAA!, and Narrative therapy to help transform the lives of these children. There are no quantitative targets set for the project, but rather an impact assessment will be conducted at the end of the program to measure the success of the initiative.
Throughout the project, the team engages a number of psychotherapists and storytellers to lead sessions and events for the children. These sessions include reading melas and storytelling sessions, as well as training for MSLs (mentorship support leaders). The team also works to identify new partner organizations and engage with new centers, assessing the needs and targeting specific age groups of children.
The project has seen a number of successes, including positive feedback from partner organizations and the appreciation of the children for the events and sessions. One challenge faced by the team is the unpredictable nature of the children’s stays in the shelter homes, with some moving out after just a few days or weeks. Additionally, the process of identifying and training new MSLs has been ongoing, as some leave the shelter homes.
Qualitative evidence of the impact of TADAA! storytelling and narrative therapy on the children has been collected from each center representative. The project has targeted four shelter homes and holds a number of storyteller sessions, with the number of children participating ranging from 50 to 150. The sessions are well received by the children and help to improve their emotional and mental well-being, as well as their communication and social skills.
Overall, the Shelter Homes project has a positive impact on the children it serves, providing support and resources that can help to improve their lives. The team continues to work on refining and improving the project, with the goal of reaching even more children in the future.