South Africa | Heart for Art, Butterfly Art Project

Art therapy for children from impoverished communities

Children become creators of their own lives

The Butterfly Art Project was founded in 2010 by Angela Katschke, a German art therapist, with the goal of strengthening children’s creativity and enabling them to become creators of their own lives.
The Butterfly Art Project offers anthroposophical art therapy in the low-income community of Vrygrond (around 30 km southeast of Cape Town’s city center) for socially disadvantaged children who would otherwise have no access to art education.
The art classes offered are intended to give children joy in creating and artistic expression, thereby strengthening their self-perception and resilience.

Joy and fun in painting, drawing, and being creative.

Children in the “Heart for Art” program are between 5 and 18 years old and can freely express themselves through numerous artistic activities: painting, wood carving, working with clay, drawing, comics, animation, stage design, knitting, crocheting, sewing, theatre performances, and mural painting.
The course content is designed to be age-appropriate and covers topics such as community, safety, culture and tolerance, feelings and emotions, as well as visions for the future.
In addition, the Butterfly Art Project offers participants the opportunity to become a “Community Art Facilitator,” learning skills in fabric painting, hand sewing, embroidery, and other forms of needlework.

Creativity opens children’s hearts.

One example of the project’s success is Brad, who took part in the Butterfly Project in order to become ready for schooling again and be integrated into a larger class. On Brad’s very first day in the art program, he walked in wearing a hoodie that completely covered his face and refused to sit down.
For two years, he then took part in various art projects designed to give him a sense of achievement once a week.
The result: Brad became more open, began to communicate, and expressed his sense of self through creativity.

Learn more now about the many projects we have been able to realize in the name of Sir Peter Ustinov with the help of numerous supporters.