Our Time at the Art Tables

This little corner of the internet is a window into the colorful, heart-led world I get to share with the children I work with. As an art teacher and holistic art therapist living in rural Kenya, my days are filled with paint-splattered tables, tiny hands rolling clay, and quiet moments of connection as children express themselves through art.

At the heart of it all is a simple but powerful belief:
When a child is given the space to create something meaningful—and to feel genuinely proud of it—something begins to heal inside.

For children who have experienced trauma or loss, art becomes more than just playtime. It becomes a language. A lifeline. A way of saying things that words can’t quite hold. And in that process of making—of turning feelings into color, form, and texture—they begin to make sense of their own stories. They begin to feel seen. Capable. Brave.

My philosophy is rooted in honoring the child. I don’t correct their art or tell them what it “should” look like. Instead, I offer materials, presence, and gentle guidance—and let the child lead. This child-centered approach allows each little artist to explore, express, and grow in their own time and in their own way.

Whether we’re painting feelings, making fingerprint heart ornaments for the gift shop, or crafting beads that carry their own special stories, the goal is always the same: to nurture resilience, imagination, and joy.

Because when a child sees their own creation and thinks, “I made that,”
what they’re really saying is, “I matter.”