Young migrants fleeing their countries arrive at their host site with a backpack full of traumatic experiences. A reality that is difficult for them to explain because of the harshness of their experiences. For this reason, at the Coll de Dalt Emergency Center, in Olot (Garrotxa), two months ago they started an artistic and audiovisual expression workshop with young migrants, aged between 16 and 18. Since yesterday, their works can be seen in an exhibition at the Núria Social space in Olot.
"This painting and audiovisual expression project seeks to channel certain emotions that are usually difficult because they are associated with trauma," explains Xavier Vinuesa, director of this reception service.
In the case of the Coll de Dalt Emergency Center, it houses young migrants who have just arrived in the country for a few months until they leave for a more permanent place. Therefore, as it is usually the first contact they make in Catalonia, in this space the boys and girls find an added obstacle when it comes to expressing everything they have experienced: the barrier of speaking a different language from that of the country that welcomes them.
This has probably also contributed to the success of this workshop. In its first two months of life, around 25 young people from different backgrounds such as Pakistan, Morocco, Guinea and Senegal attended the workshop. The workshop, which is held twice a week, is based on Waldorf pedagogy, an educational model that emphasizes imagination in learning, so that both analytical and creative components are included in the mental processes.
"The important thing is that these young people have discovered a safe space to be able to show their emotions," says Vinuesa, who adds: "Normally, they have few opportunities to express the facts (experienced)".
One of these young people is Samba, a 17-year-old from Gambia. "I feel happy to be able to express all this, which are bad feelings." However, Samba is pleased when people appreciate the pictures he has painted: "It fills my heart.
Now, in addition, he lives with emotion the fact that the people of Olot can enjoy his art in the exhibition that opened yesterday afternoon at the Núria Social space in Olot, where it will remain until September 28th. The works, a total of 17 paintings and five murals, can be seen from Monday to Friday from 12:00 to 17:00. At the moment, the fifty people who attended the opening of the exhibition have already done so.
"This way not only the kids at the center can see it, but also other people can admire that art. Art is beautiful and I like that other people can see it," Samba concludes.
