Advocacy: Art for Peace

When the unspeakable happens, the arts can provide a way to channel support to those affected while creating a space to process complex thoughts and feelings. When global tragedy strikes, such as the war in Ukraine, some students can feel helpless or frightened, while others have a healthy coping system.

As educators, we are called on to recognize our role in teaching to the whole child, including mental health. While educators are not a substitute for mental health specialists, we can facilitate a way for students to express their emotions. In any trying situation, emotional support is crucial, and lets the people involved know that we care. Often in our efforts to lift others up, we can also lift ourselves up.

Messages from the Heart
Students and teachers don’t have to be artistic to participate in this activity; they could write, draw, or do both in any language on heart-stamped fabric pieces. This is not so much an art project as it is a collective gesture of support and solidarity from one school community to another. Since we had created similar flags for other schools experiencing disaster in the past, there was a high level of participation and the school’s slush fund and supply closet were readily available.

To gauge how many teachers are comfortable implementing this activity in their classroom, reach out to your faculty and staff asking how students would like to participate. Participation should always be presented as optional, recognizing that some teachers might not be able to fit this project into their schedule, and some students might not wish to participate. Create a judgment-free zone or a common place like a table in the lunchroom with a set amount of fabric squares where students can participate at will.

Preparation and Execution
Purchasing 5 x 5" (12.5 x 12.5 cm) precut fabric squares, solid or patterned, works best to expedite the process. Make a slightly smaller heart-shaped stamp using a carve block or linoleum. If you have student helpers, have them make a few more. Bench hooks, brayers, and barens are needed for the printing process. Fabric printing ink or acrylic paint are suitable for creating a print that students can write on with permanent markers. Choose lighter colors for printing to ensure the message is readable.

Collate the supplies and place them in each teacher’s mailbox with a copy of the directions (include a due date and location to return items). Once you receive the fabric pieces, sew them in strands of twelve on a ¼" (0.5 cm) ribbon, leaving a few inches in between each one and an extra 6" (15 cm) on both ends for hanging. Be receptive to other ideas, too. A few teachers requested a larger space for students to write because they wanted to make this activity part of an English lesson. I created a template to allow for this variation.

Because we couldn’t send the sewn flags and messages directly to the teacher in Ukraine who we were in communication with, we displayed them in our school hallways and sent a video of students and their messages instead. We plan to send the physical artworks when there is a place they can be received.

Fundraising
Once the flags were finished, we began a campus-wide fundraising effort. The elementary art teacher worked with her students to make messages of support, and she also hosted an International Night event where students sold handcrafted goods in support of Ukrainian students. At the high-school level, there were various fundraisers, from selling t-shirts and bake sales to donating $1 in order to wear pajama bottoms. Collectively, we raised over $3,000 that we sent to Ukraine schools via UNICEF.

School to school, student to student, teacher to teacher. Knowing that the messages of support and funds were sent to our counterparts across the globe gave this effort a life of its own. A school community can create a healing space for students, near and far, in times of need, sharing humanity and hope for the future.