CCT Volunteer Nora Demilta 2nd Blog Post (Art Relief International)

This past week with ARI has been a bit of a different experience. We had two new volunteers join the team, Danielle and Queenie. They’re both from Ireland and both are really kind and fun to work with. They let me tease them about their Irish colloquialisms and they do the same for my American slang. I’m thankful for their addition and they’ve already contributed to some stellar workshops. Danielle and I teamed up on a Hope Home workshop last week where we made jetpacks out of cardboard and plastic bottles. We collaborated on the idea and it went really well! The children at Hope Home had a blast with the jet packs they made. Whenever a kid would finish their project, one of the volunteers would lift them up and fly them around the room. This always elicited a few giggles from the students! This was my favorite workshop with Hope Home thus far and it would not of happened without Danielle’s help.

It was interesting when Danielle and Queenie first arrived at ARI. All of the TEAN volunteers tried so hard to help them and teach them the ways of ARI. We acted as if we had been here for years when in reality it had only been about 10 days. It’s funny how quickly we adapted to working and living here. I hate to think that I only have about three more weeks in Thailand. I’ve learned so much and had so much fun; I don’t want it to end. I don’t want to have to say goodbye to the students, my coworkers, or the other TEAN members. In my last days I’m trying live as fully as possible and enjoy every moment. I want to be rich in memories for when I go back to the states!

CCT Volunteer Mark Cotter Art Relief International - Compassion, Understanding, and Awareness

                               

Chiang Mai, Thailand. The mountains surround the city in serenity, combing with the 

cloudy skies to create a soft, calm scene. Everywhere you walk, everywhere you look, 

there are food stands representing the communal Thai society as customers and 

sellers exchange food, money, and happiness. The Old City is reminiscent of the 

Lanna Kingdom, a past and glorious empire with Chiang Mai as its capital. As the 

moat surrounds this part, you can still watch Lanna dance performances and enjoy 

traditional Lanna cuisine. However, the best part of my trip, more than the food, the 

mountains, and the past, are the people. Through my internship, I have been exposed 

to the various communities Chiang Mai offers and they are often undeserved.

 

In a two-week span, I have worked with adults with disabilities, children with disabilities, Burmese refugees, students at temple schools, juveniles, elderly, and male sex workers. Art Relief International has bestowed upon me the opportunity to create and present art workshops to these marginalized communities. From teaching the students English words and drawing their favorite food on a plate, to forging charmed bracelets for the children with disabilities and dancing to the beats they made.

dance performances and enjoy traditional Lanna cuisine. However, the best 

part of my trip, more than the food, the mountains, and the past, are the 

people. Through my internship, I have been exposed to the various 

communities Chiang Mai offers and they are often undeserved

 



These communities are full of love, joy, determination, and grit. Yes, they are undeserved and marginalized, but they are as capable of succeeding as everyone else when given equitable opportunities. My compassion, awareness, and understanding has substantially grown in these past couple of weeks, and I hope to continue that for the rest of my internship.

CCT volunteer Nora Demilta Blog Post Art Relief International

It is crazy how much time has already passed. I am more done with my summer adventure than not. It’s frightening to think about returning home and it’s making me want to savor my time here. This past week of workshops brought unique challenges and victories that I did not originally expect. I am still learning the dynamic of this team and discovering how we all fit together. Regardless, I’m thankful for the group I am working with. We support each other in and out of the workshops and are always ready for fun.

            I taught my first workshop last Monday with Thai Freedom House. We made pinwheels and boxes for them to be displayed in. When we came up the stairs the kids were running around, shouting, and throwing a ball around the room. I was anxious to begin. I had no idea how I would be able to communicate what I needed from them and how I would be able to lead their group. Luckily, Pepo handled most of the explanation and fielded any questions the children had. I felt so guilty whenever I was unable to assist one of the students properly. I would look blankly at the students as they asked me questions in their native language. Only fully responding when they called out, “Teacher!” As my time progresses I would like to do my best to communicate more with the students. I know that I’m not going to become a Thai wizard overnight but I think it’s important for our relationship to figure out a multitude of ways to communicate. There’s more than just verbal communication and I will have to use that to my advantage while I’m here.

           

  I love my placement and I am so thankful for the chance to be here. The more time I spend with ARI the more I feel connected to what I value as an artist. All of the groups we work with are so unique and it makes every day a new adventure. 

CCT volunteer Sam Walters (Art Relief International)

We did a lot of things during our first two weeks volunteering at Art Relief International. The first week seemed more stress free since all the workshops were run by Madeline. It was still a lot of work but really exciting to meet all of the groups, seeing them smile and having fun. The second week was a little scary, because we were writing lesson plans but fortunately I am part of a very great team. We all helped each other out because nothing is more important than creating a great workshop where everyone has fun and learns something new. I am glad that I get to work with such great people that help me when I need it and I can help when they need it. We make a great team and we all are so happy to be working for ARI. I am very happy to have met everyone at Hope Home, Urban Light, Elderly Care, etc. It always makes me so Happy to see them.

CCT Volunteer Julia Taladay Blog Post (Art Relief International)

Since starting my internship with ARI only 2.5 weeks ago, I feel like my understanding of so many different things have changed. The people I’ve gotten to meet and work with have made me realize that I can be an extremely adaptable and relaxed person, while also being a leader that people look up to. Before starting the internship, I did not think that I would work well with disabled people at all. Being an athlete, most of my friends are also athletes and we often bond over physical activities like sports or competitions. For children who are physically disables, I was unsure if I would be able to make a connection with them. At Hope Home and Healing Families, I proved myself wrong. I have learned new ways to bod with people through different avenues. I am learning how to communicate and bond with others in a way that in still physical, like helping the kids paint and giving them different fabrics to feel, but in a way that is less competitive and more educational and therapeutic. This has been a recent revelation of mine. One of my favorite moments with ARI so far has been with Healing Family, playing games with the participants. It is physical, but in a way that encourages bonding and solidarity rather than competition. I’m excited to see how ARI will redefine other concepts for me in the coming weeks.