Creative-educational interactive workshops were held in the "Podgorica" Old Home and in the "Mladost" Bijela children's home for the past three months, with the aim of reducing the negative impact of consumerism and lethargy, then promoting the active and creative participation of individuals in society, in preserving the environment , social contribution through different segments of micro actions and micro mobs, regardless of the conditions they live in.
The workshops are held as part of the environmental-artistic project "Mental ecology", and the pilot phase is supported by friends of the project company UNIQA Montenegro.
"The Mental Ecology project "I create my life", which is part of the creative course program "Discipline of Imagination", is intended for two vulnerable target groups, children without parents in a children's home and the elderly in a nursing home. Both target groups are in a temporary home with with a similar mental pattern of abandonment that needs to be rehabilitated, strengthened and encouraged to change," says project author Milena Živković.
She states that this concept helps in developing creative capacities, but also in raising environmental awareness and promoting sustainable solutions, creating new forms of communities, whose strength is reflected in the strength of continuity through the smallest contributions, precisely within the framework of homes for the young and old.
"One of the goals is to enable, through this unique opportunity, orphaned children in particular to become ambassadors of the change that happens most spontaneously, and which can influence the activation of creative potential and personal development," Živković points out.
The workshop at the Old People's Home "Podgorica" is intended to provide support in the last phase of life. The goal of the workshop is to develop inner creative potential, self-confidence and self-esteem through artistic activities and techniques.
"The users of the home not only got the opportunity for creative expression, but also additional emotional and mental support that contributes to their well-being. Supporting the cultural engagement of the elderly is not only the responsibility of individuals, but also a social task. That is why it is important to create an environment that allows all elderly people to stay involved, healthy and connected," said Živković.
The artistic and creative workshop for children in the home in Bijela is the first experience of such creative connection and research in that environment, providing a deeper and sustainable contribution to the development of children through artistic expression.
"This group of young people is made up of high school students who attend various schools and educational programs, mostly vocational, and their formal education is more oriented towards technical skills and practical subjects. Experiences with specialized creative workshops, through which they could develop their talents and explore other Many of them come from environments that do not have enough resources or opportunities to provide them with cultural and artistic content, which makes these workshops not only educational but also an extremely valuable experience, he says. author of the project.
The workshop "Discipline of imagination - I create a new life" brought children from the home in Bijela an exceptional experience, giving them the opportunity to discover new aspects of themselves, their talents and potential through artistic activities and interaction with experts.
"This program helped the children understand how powerful art can be as a tool for expression and personal growth. Through the workshop, they had the opportunity to explore different forms of creativity and to see how the creative process can contribute to positive changes in their lives," Živković pointed out.
Visual artist Milena Živković, with her team Natalija Đaletić (philologist and educator), Blaž Tatar (producer and videographer) and Ozren Zogović (journalist and photographer), designed a program of creative workshops that will be held during the next 12 months, so that children have continuous support in his artistic and emotional development.
The holistic approach combines art, ecology, empathy and education, and so far it has been implemented with the most diverse target groups, high school students, city cleaning workers, inmates of the prison in Spuz, then medical workers, architects, artists, economists, lawyers, etc.
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