Peace at Home

You might remember last year in Calais, we produced a collaborative mural with Collective Aid and CamCRAG. This year we returned to partner with Kaleidoscope, an excellent NGO offering creative activities for displaced and refugee teenagers in Calais.

We delivered a week-long project called Peace at Home, celebrating the spaces where we feel loved, safe and cherished.

In the first part of the week, we collaborated with Doctors Without Borders and safe houses in Calais to create a paper house installation. Over the years, we’ve witnessed how communities on the move find ways to build spaces for worship, connection, and togetherness. Our aim was to help physically and playfully construct an imaginative space offering respite from the harsh realities faced by young people on the move in Northern France. At the same time, the Kaleidoscope team used the opportunity to signpost and refer young people and families to further support services.

The reflections from the teenagers were both powerful and emotional. When asked, 'What one thing do you need in life to be happy?' all nine boys answered: 'education'. One boy added, 'It is a beautiful feeling to sit in here; it reminds me of my village and home.'

Throughout the week, we faced several challenges in facilitating activities. Plans often had to be adapted to meet the young people's needs, and on some days, we even set aside our original ideas to simply play games with the teenagers. This offered them a more adult space, especially for those who had primarily been spending time with much younger children.

To close the week, we continued exploring how we create spaces through limited resources. We transformed the gazebo using fabric panels to make the ‘Kaleidoscope House’ - a welcoming space for young people to decorate, draw, and dream.

Now back in the UK, we’re keen to develop this project further to highlight the experiences of displaced children seeking safety and the valuable work that’s happening in Northern France.

If you want to build experience delivering arts and play activities in challenging circumstances, we encourage you to go and volunteer with @youthkaleidoscope 🌱 🌈 🌞