Empowering Vulnerable Communities through Art-Based Interventions
At Access to Play, we harness the power of applied drama and theatre-based interventions to support vulnerable communities in conflict zones, refugee camps, and disaster-affected areas. Our work is centered on promoting healing, resilience, and emotional well-being, addressing critical psychosocial needs in response to issues such as conflict, gender-based violence (GBV), HIV/AIDS, climate change, floods, natural disasters, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), and other humanitarian crises.
ART HEALS
Our Approach: Art as Healing and Social Change
We use theatre-based techniques to provide mental health support and create safe spaces for vulnerable individuals, especially in communities affected by conflict and natural disasters. Our interventions include:
Applied Drama & Theatre
We engage communities with applied theatre, where participants explore pressing social issues like health education, climate change, gender equality, and disaster preparedness. This participatory approach empowers individuals to develop solutions and foster social change.
Applied Improvisation
We use applied improvisation to enhance key skills such as collaboration, leadership, and problem-solving. This method helps individuals in crisis situations think creatively, enabling them to address complex challenges like conflict resolution, flood management, and gender-based violence.
Theatre for Advocacy
Our Theatre for Advocacy (TFA) programs create performances focused on social justice and community participation. TFA covers issues such as HIV/AIDS prevention, climate change, gender-based violence, flood resilience, and mental health, sparking dialogue and action in affected communities.
Playback Theatre
Through Playback Theatre, we provide a platform for individuals to share their personal stories, which are then enacted by actors. This process helps people process trauma, build empathy, and begin their healing journey, especially in communities facing conflict, floods, and gender-based violence.
Our Impact: Fostering Healing and Resilience
For over nine years, Access to Play has been at the forefront of delivering art-based interventions across Nigeria, particularly in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe—states severely impacted by conflict and displacement. Our programs have impacted over 40,000 individuals, including children, women, and youth, empowering them through creative play and theatre to overcome trauma, build resilience, and engage in social change.
Tackling Humanitarian Issues Through Creative Play
Our work directly addresses key humanitarian challenges:
- WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene): We use theatre to raise awareness and encourage dialogue on sanitation, disease prevention, and access to safe water.
- HIV/AIDS Prevention: Through interactive performances, we engage communities in conversations around HIV/AIDS awareness, stigma reduction, and sexual health education.
- Climate Change & Natural Disasters: Our interventions promote climate resilience, disaster preparedness, and sustainable practices in communities grappling with the environmental impact of floods, conflict, and displacement.
- Gender-Based Violence (GBV): We empower women and girls to voice their experiences and find healing through creative play, theatre, and psychosocial support.
- Conflict and Peacebuilding: Our Playback Theatre and applied drama activities promote peacebuilding, trauma recovery, and conflict resolution, helping communities heal and rebuild.
Expanding Our Reach: A Vision for the Future
As we look ahead, Access to Play is committed to expanding its impact. We aim to continue our work in conflict-affected regions, particularly focusing on:
- Improved access to education for children displaced by conflict and natural disasters.
- Empowerment of youth and women, providing them with life skills and mental health support.
- Social inclusion for marginalized groups, ensuring they have the tools to overcome trauma and contribute to community progress.
By aligning our work with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—specifically SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)—we continue to address the interconnected issues of gender-based violence, mental health, climate change, and conflict resolution through creative and impactful interventions.
Get Involved
Join us in making a difference. Together, we can continue to bring healing, resilience, and social change to communities affected by conflict, gender-based violence, HIV/AIDS, climate change, and floods through the power of creative play, theatre, and applied drama.
Contact us today to learn more about how you can support our mission and help create lasting change.
