Origami as a tool for well-being.

To showcase and teach simple origami folding exercises that when practiced regularly, can lead to achieving mental capabilities, concentration and focus, spatial awareness, and innate talents.

To promote a general atmosphere of love and acceptance.

To engage the children with fun activities that bring them joy at the moment and leave them with feelings of love and positivity.

To inspire confidence, pride, and fulfillment in the children as they complete origami tasks.

To raise hope and inspiration through the art of origami.

Mentor

Dr. John Adenle

(SENEGAL)

Group leader

Washington Anuoluapo Ileogben

(EDO)

Assistant group leader

Yinka Enahoro

(CASABLANCA)

Anchor

Oyindamola Fakeye

(MINDELO)

Funmilayo Elizabeth Idowu

(KAMPALA)

Project Community Partners:

Modupe Cole Memorial Home, Pako, Akoka Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria

Expanded Summary:

TARGET AUDIENCE - Children, ages 10 & above, from the Modupe Cole Memorial Child Care & Treatment Home living with disabilities of diverse categories some of which are:

• Downs Syndrome

• Cerebral Palsy

• Autism

The programme was slated to start by 10 am, however for some logistics we started around 11 am. The children were all eagerly waiting for us to start, and there was much anticipation in the air. The caregiver had divided them into groups according to their ability and syndrome. Group A was handled by Dr John and Washington to fold Swan. Group B was handled by Yinka and Rachel to fold simple Hearts. Group C was handled by Oyinda and Olufunmi to fold the Pyramid. While Washington taught the children how to fold butterflies (Kirigami). All the folding activities took about 1 hour 45 minutes, each group was assisted to mount the folded projects onto the cardboard for a gallery show.

The Unexpected:

Usually these children are sensitive and can not wait additional minutes when it it was time for food, they lost attention in all other things for that moment. We slated the programme to start by 10 am, but due to logistics, we started around 11 am which was closer to their lunch period. We folded for about 1 hour 45 minutes, very unusual as we had taken part of their time for lunch, yet the children were absorbed by the activities because they were interested in getting their tasks completed.

This project calls our attention to the need to be proactively committed to such kind of engagements that put love, joy, care, happiness to the heart and faces of children.

CONSIDERATIONS:

This project calls our attention to the need to be proactively committed to such kind of engagements that put love, joy, care, happiness to the heart and faces of this category of children. For instance, one of the caregivers said that he never knew one could create a thing more beautiful than the quality of the paper used. He was surprised that papers could be folded into all the varieties of shapes as done by the children. He also advised that we come once a month so the children could have constant practice and that we could even set up an origami department in the school. Another caregiver said she had not seen them so focused on something in a long time like they did for this tasks of paper folding.

—

Being able to say no to unrealistic expectations or to not participate in part of a project because the healing is in the actual saying ‘no’ and that being respected by your peers. To actively relax during the working day and take a lunch break. This kind of work often highlights our own trauma responses, and the personal cost can be high if we don’t have the time or finances to support ourselves through the rough patches.

OUTCOME:

After the folding sessions, these were the words of some of the children:

Love what I did.

I am Happy and felt loved.

Felt very happy.

Looking forward to folding more designs.

You people have created joy and happiness and caused the children to feel proud and fulfilled.

I am in awe of transforming a single piece of paper into all the se beautiful shapes.

We want you to come back tomorrow.

RESOURCES

Please see video highlights of the events:

Case Stories ✲ Case Stories ✲ Case Stories ✲ Case Stories ✲ Case Stories ✲