In 2006, Philip Holmes introduced his passion for mosaic art to a few of the older children EBT had rescued from lives of abuse in Indian circuses.

In doing so, he unearthed an array of talent that astounded him—and led to the wider Art Workshops initiative that would continue the essentially therapeutic nature of art while providing formal skills that would help the girls rebuild their lives.

 

What We Do
Integrated Art Workshop

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Since 2009 we have built on the successes of our Art Workshop for Survivors of Child Trafficking to reach a wider range of beneficiaries.

Our Integrated Art Workshop in Bhairahawa offers formal art training to trafficking survivors and graduates from the local School for Deaf Children we support. Art professionals from all over the world have volunteered to share their time and expertise to support the project.
 
Graduates from the courses will be well placed to capitalise on Nepal's thriving local art industry which services the country's tourism sector. They are also able to produce in situ commissions for Nepali businesses such as hotels and tour operators.

The students receive a very good training allowance while they learn, and study in an excellent working environment.

 

Both groups are often stigmatised in Nepal, meaning that employment opportunities can be hard to come by. Many circus returnees are deemed as 'tainted', while deaf people are commonly referred to as 'lato' ('stupid').

 

We are already finding that the students are working brilliantly together and forging new friendships - all the while growing in confidence as they acquire skills which can help them to overcome these prejudices and enjoy an independent adult life.