CHANGE through use of the arts is the new approach being taken to tackle the problem of violence against women and children and five persons have recently completed a six-day training in this regard at Lesley University, United States of America.
Founder of the Margaret Clemons Foundation, Ms. Margaret Clemons, the sponsor of the training pledged to have all the staff from the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security and Help and Shelter engaged in the arts based methodology.
The five beneficiaries of the training include Ms. Oslyn Crawford, Ms. Yogeeta Rampersaud, Mr. Gavin Munroe and Mr. Wesley Albert, from the Ministry; and Ms. Tessa Greene from Help and Shelter.
The five were involved in the University’s Peaceable Schools and Communities Institute, which envisions a global community free from violence, disconnection, and systemic inequity where inclusive, empowered learning that is rooted in the values of affirmation, consensus building, excellence, and equity is a reality for all members. As a result of the Peaceable Schools’ efforts, educators, young people, and other community members will have the tools, knowledge and relationships to live out and generate welcoming, dynamic and interconnected communities.
The participants were engaged in sharing their insights, current practices, and ideas for peace building and social change.
Social change is quintessential in addressing the issue of violence, according to Clemons.
In an interview, Clemons said on a visit to Guyana the issue of domestic violence impacted on her enough to want her to do something more about it.
A private investigator by profession, she returned to New York and kick started the Margaret Clemons Foundation.
“I have a sponsor base in New York which is growing…it is a new foundation and because of my history in theatre and research done I wanted to look at addressing violence in an new way, with an arts based programme,” she said.
She explained that behaviour change can be encouraged better in an environment that is fun and creative.
“This is a different way to change the status quo,” Clemons said.
She observed that the general awareness is there, but the will to act is not, society will not intervene into situations where there is violence against women and children.
Social inaction, as Clemons termed it, is a problem when considering a move towards behaviour change.
“Violence grows like a vine. It starts somewhere, more often the home, and this is where it needs to be first addressed,” she said.
According to her, the Margaret Clemons Foundation is committed to working in Guyana over the next few years to work on establishing a template for addressing violence through expressive arts.

Template

“Once we have that template we can take it to other places and with a few cultural tweaks it can work, it can go anywhere,” Clemons said.
She noted that apart from the Ministry and Help and Shelter, the Foundation will extend its collaborations with other stakeholders.
Clemons said documentation throughout the entire process will be critical to determining what works and what does not and enhancing the template.
“This is not about legislations. The governments will do what they have to do. This is about doing more at the grassroots level,” Clemons said.
She said the programmes already in place assist her Foundation’s work in that they encourage other sustainable efforts.
Consultant and Researcher with the Foundation, Ms. Lauren Stevenson, pointed out that behaviour change is a process that is achieved by building on existing conditions in society.
She added that with this undertaking Guyana is in a position to be the first, the leader, with a comprehensive strategy for behaviour change in the area of violence against women and children.
In an invited comment, Ms. Tessa Greene, who has worked with Help and Shelter for the last three years, said, the training will impact Guyana in the effort to create positive behaviour changes.
Greene said: “The programme centres on working with people; they can express themselves in a way that matters to them.”
She explained that by using the arts-based methodology, some of the concepts in the USA are similar to what Guyana uses, but the literature is obviously more in-depth.
“The new ideas will work well in Guyana,” she said.