Art Refuge, originally named 'The Painting Club,' started life in the Tibetan Homes Foundation, Mussorie, India in 1994. It was created by FOTWA (Friends of Tibetan Women's Association) as a series of month - long after school painting clubs for refugee children where they painted their memories of Tibet, the journey into exile, and life in their new schools in India. It provided an opportunity for creativity and healing after what had often been a frightening journey. Today Art Refuge helps refugee children during their transition through Nepal and their passage into India.

Tibetan refugee children have important needs beyond the obvious material ones of food, shelter and medicine. One of these needs is the opportunity to play. The Art Refuge programme provides refugee children with a protected time and space in which to play and make art. They are supported in this by adult facilitators who have undertaken the same journey into exile and therefore can understand and relate to the children's fears, anxieties and need for comfort. For these children, whose lives have been disrupted, playing and making art is an essential therapeutic activity which can help to reduce stress and establish normalcy. Clearly, play and art activities of and in themselves cannot change stressful circumstances. What such activities can do, however, is enable the children to engage in meaningful interactions, thereby helping them to cope with stressful experiences through shifting the balance of social, environmental and psychological factors in a positive direction.

Art Refuge now takes place in Kathmandu, Nepal and Dharamsala, India with the children who have just left Tibet and are in transit on their way to their new schools in India. They may be in Kathmandu for up to 5 months, but in Dharamsala for only a few weeks. While in Kathmandu, the new arrivals receive food, clothing, medical attention and identity papers before travelling to India by bus. The children also participate in Art Refuge twice a day where staff members oversee a safe, nurturing environment in which the children can paint and play. In Dharamsala the children's needs continue to be met and additionally they are prepared for their transition into school

The volunteers collaborate in planning activities, adding new ideas where appropriate. They also help set- up and give assistance to the staff and children during sessions. Additionally they assist staff with assorted tasks - such as taking inventories of supplies and collecting stories of the children's journeys.

The minimum time commitment is at least one month: anything less than this is too distracting for the staff and not conducive to the creation of a safe, stable environment for the children who have already experienced much loss. The volunteers have had an extremely positive time with the children. Many have gone on to sponsor children. Others have felt so changed by their experiences, that they returned home to study medicine, social work or nursing.

"I did lots of laughing in (the Program). There were some funny moments where kids were just being kids and causing mayhem and laughter. The Tibetan people are so beautifully relaxed and always laughing or making fun of each other in a very sincere way. I loved dancing with them the most. Because they are mostly all shy, it was hard to get them moving but when some of them did, everyone was ear to ear smiles."

"The children were wonderful, respectful, kind, crazy but caring- I was treated as very special and felt very welcomed by the kids. I refer to them as the saving grace, having the charm to make all my differences and sense of not belonging disappear."

What were the most rewarding aspects of volunteering: "The magic of the children."

"Whenever I see them litted up with happy smiles, willingness to talk openly to me about how they feel, share, fears, etc…I know I made a right choice to come over to Kathmandu."

A favourite memory '…in Dharamsala, when the children runned to me when I met them in the street, hugging me and offering me what they had in that moment (candy…) This capacity of sharing, giving the little thing they have shocked me, in that moment I start to discover the good qualities they have, unfortunately difficult to see in the children from the West I worked with. Another good quality: their capacity of living and focusing in the present moment, concentrating 100% in the activities we prepared, also the natural way of cooperating between them."

"I adore Ama-la and loved interacting with her- her laughter and holding my hand as she would talk and talk to me in Tibetan knowing I did not understand and then her wonderful laugh. Wonderful with the children. I loved being around them, their energy, how much is understood in nonverbal communication, their joy and energy and kindness to each other, how open they are even with all that happened to them."

"I am amazed still by their joyfulness in light of their experiences of such challenge."

"I woke up each day energetic, loving my work, so happy to go work with the children."

Favourite memories…"Some of the wonderful relationships that I developed with the children. I have faces and names etched into my mind forever. I was especially taken a back by how affectionate and generous these kids were…not to mention their incredible resilience!"