Expressive Arts for Syrian Refugee Children

Wings of Peace began in 2015 in response to the Syrian civil war that forced thousands of Syrians to flee their homes and seek refuge in Jordan and throughout the world. Many of these refugees are children and many have been injured and traumatized by the violence. Wings of Peace provides Syrian refugees in Jordan with physical and psychological rehabilitation services for adult and child refugees.

Together, the Polus Center, Asia Development Training, and the Sir Bobby Charlton Foundation developed a unique and effective child trauma support program to address psychological trauma experienced by war-wounded Syrian children.

One cornerstone of the program is the expressive arts therapy program that uses visual art as a means of psychological trauma therapy for children. Psychological trauma experienced by children can be so painful that it is not possible for them to process or express themselves verbally. Expressive arts therapy provides children with a non-verbal means of expression that helps them to communicate their traumatic experiences so that they can begin a process of psychological recovery. Over time, the children begin to talk about their experiences in a group setting, participate in one-on-one therapy sessions, and even provide crucial peer support to others who are new to the program.

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In the paintings, one immediately witnesses the transfiguration in mood that corresponds with the stage of recovery, from violent depictions of conflict to peace and overcoming, that mirror the stages of the children’s treatment process.

In addition to the psychological trauma support services, Polus provides children with prosthetic and orthotic devices to improve their mobility and quality of life. Providing prosthetic limbs and simultaneously helping children process their experience aids in their recovery, it also helps them develop new coping skills, foster personal growth, and increases their sense of security.

Expressive Arts Gallery

These paintings are by Syrian refugee children as part of the Here you can view the gallery or even purchase prints of paintings by Syrian refugee children to help support the Polus Center’s Wings of Peace program in Jordan. All proceeds go to provide prosthetic rehabilitation and trauma therapy at the Sir Bobby Charlton Centre, in Amman, Jordan.