The ADRA Poland Foundation carried out in Katowice a unique educational-artistic project which connected children from Poland and Ukraine with peers from Tanzania. Through art and joint action, the participants of the project established relationships and showed that empathy and creativity know no borders.
Art as a language of understanding and integration
The participants of the project were children aged 8–16 living in Silesia, including children with refugee experience. As part of the summer workshops, they:
- discovered Katowice during walks,
- listened to the stories of the residents of Katowice,
- got to know the city through the eyes of the older generation.
“We walked around Katowice, we discovered places we didn’t know before, we listened to the stories of residents who showed us the city through their own eyes,” recalls one of the participants.
Then the children poured their emotions and impressions onto paper, creating drawings, collages, literary texts, and photographs.
The children had a chance to express themselves without judgement, in an atmosphere of understanding and equality.
From Katowice to Tanzania – children join forces beyond borders
The exhibition titled “Katowice – the city of dreams” presented the created works to the local community, but this was not the end of the story.
All these artworks were sent to our friends from an orphanage in Tanzania, to children affected by albinism and to the beneficiaries of the “Distance Adoption” programme.
Their reaction was extraordinary: joy, laughter and gratitude that someone on the other side of the world thought about them.
In response, the children from Tanzania sent photos of their own works inspired by the works of their peers from Katowice and a touching thank-you video.
This is a real meeting of cultures and hearts, showing how art can become a language of global solidarity, and how the city of Katowice can become a bridge between continents.
Global education in practice
The project was also a space for intergenerational dialogue and building social awareness. It showed that:
- every child has the right to a voice,
- every experience matters,
- local actions can have an international reach.
We thank the City of Katowice, the project partners and all the children who showed that solidarity begins with the heart.
Project partners
The project was carried out by the ADRA Poland Foundation in partnership with: ADRA Tanzania, Katowice City of Gardens, the Katowice Seniors’ Council, and the Social Ministry of Loneliness Foundation.
The original article appeared here: Sztuka bez granic – dzieci z Katowic, Ukrainy i Tanzanii łączą siły – ADRA Polska