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Stories of Hope: The Lasting Impact of Creativity with drawchange

Updated: 17 minutes ago

A Glimpse into drawchange Sessions

Woman smiling with three children creating art.

“The children feel that the most important part of the activity is them. And they are in a safe place to express their sadness, joy, and fear.”, said Eliana, a volunteer who has been with drawchange for overe a year.   Our programs are designed to inspire creativity, fuel confidence, and develop additional critical skills to navigate the challenges of poverty. We’ve collected inspiring stories from those directly impacted by our programs. We are excited to highlight the joy experienced during our sessions and the lasting impact beyond the classroom, creating a program that children, families, and volunteers are eager to return to. 


Art Therapy: Calming Minds, Opening Hearts

“I’m excited when I know it’s a drawchange day”, shared T (age 7) , an energetic and bright child who expressed that his favorite part of drawchange was sharing his art with his peers during show-n-tell. Drawchange volunteer, Laura, shared how children like T blossom during our sessions, saying, “I have seen that the children’s mood gets better and they always seem happy and excited to participate in the activities. They begin to open up about their lives and socialize with others in the room.”


Creating art alone can be exhilarating, but our programs provide children with a calming space where they can express their creativity among peers, fostering connection, collaboration, and a sense of belonging. E (age 12) described drawchange as something that  “calms me [and is] peaceful”. 


“I believe drawchange benefits [children] because it brings a sense of calm/security with full creativity to their day. I don't believe they get to experience that combination in too many other areas of their lives”. Volunteer, CJ shared,  When asked about mood changes during a drawchange session, CJ added, “I have seen many of the children appear stressed, anxious, or tired when they come to drawchange. While they are creating their artwork they start to open up and engage more with the other children at their tables and the volunteers.”


Volunteers: The Heart of drawchange

Through our programs, children find moments of joy and relief from the stressors of homelessness. Volunteers share how deeply this experience impacts their own lives as well: “The longer you are involved with drawchange the greater your knowledge becomes on the impact you can have by being a volunteer. I am glad that drawchange has allowed me to go into so many different shelters and environments to bring the power of creativity into the lives of so many children” - anon. 


“When experiencing bullying, I can sit in my room and do the breathing exercises”. 

Beyond the positive experiences children, shelter staff, and volunteers share during our sessions, we emphasize creating a lasting impact beyond the classroom. In October 2024, child B (age 12), who had been with drawchange for just two months, shared how the program has helped her.

Volunteer intently working with 4 children creating art.

Volunteer, Alita, observed that children demonstrated “increased confidence, enhanced interpersonal skills, greater self-awareness and emotional regulation”. ​​The skills developed through our programs often carry over into other areas of a child’s life, fostering positive and lasting behavioral changes. For example, shelter staff, Antoinette, shared that two male children “have [had] a history of being aggressive and we have not had one report of aggression since participating”. 


Stories from B, Alita, and Antoinette highlight what lies at the heart of drawchange: our commitment to each child’s personal growth and the transformative, therapeutic impact of art therapy-based programming. Participating in a drawchange session leaves such a profound impression on children that they are eager to return. Shelter staff, Antoinette, shared that one child “enjoyed the activities so much that she brought her 2 cousins, and they have participated in each session. Mom states that they look forward to attending & they now come into the shelter asking to help with dinner”.


A Brighter Future, One Child at a Time

We are humbled and inspired by the stories of transformation, resilience, and joy that have emerged from our programs. Each child who participates, each volunteer who gives their time, and each shelter staff member who supports us plays a vital role in building a brighter future. The profound impact of creativity, confidence, and connection extends far beyond our sessions, shaping lives and fostering hope. Stories of Hope and Healing: The Lasting Impact of Creativity

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This is the wisdom I spent my thirties searching for! earn to die If only I could have learned it sooner!

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