Building Resilience for IDPS through Creative Play

What are you raising money for?

We are raising funds to support Access to Play’s mission of providing art-based Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) to displaced and underserved communities in Nigeria. Specifically, we aim to raise 38,000,000 (USD $50,000) to implement creative interventions using Improvisational Theatre, Playback Theatre, and Creative Play. These methods will help individuals—particularly children, women, and survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV)—heal from trauma and build resilience. Our programs will offer psychosocial support to over 1,500 adolescent boys and girls in crisis-affected regions. By using Applied Improvisation and creative play, we will help them express emotions, process trauma, and foster social cohesion. Additionally, 100 women and girls who are survivors of GBV will be empowered through support groups facilitated by Playback Theatre. Our School Without Borders initiative will provide 1,000 displaced children with creative-based education in communities lacking access to formal schooling, ensuring they have the opportunity to learn and grow. In addition, we will train community members in Improvisation Theatre and Playback Theatre to provide livelihood opportunities and promote long-term healing, empowerment, and peace. Given the scarcity of art-based psychosocial interventions in Nigeria, this campaign is vital. Your support will help us provide transformative programs that will give individuals in vulnerable communities the chance to heal, learn, and thrive. Together, we can create a lasting impact.

Why are you raising the funds?

We are raising funds to provide art-based Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) to displaced and underserved communities in Nigeria. Ongoing conflicts, natural disasters, and insecurity have left many, especially children, women, and survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), in urgent need of healing and support. Currently, there is limited access to effective psychosocial interventions in Nigeria, particularly those utilizing Improvisational Theatre, Playback Theatre, and Creative Play—all powerful tools for trauma recovery, resilience-building, and social cohesion. By raising 38,000,000 (USD $50,000), we aim to provide life-changing interventions to 1,500 adolescent boys and girls, 100 women and girls survivors of GBV, and 1,000 displaced children. This funding is crucial now because the need for mental health support is immediate, and these communities lack access to formal services. Our creative programs offer innovative, accessible, and culturally relevant solutions. We will also train local individuals in Improvisation Theatre and Playback Theatre, creating livelihood opportunities and ensuring long-term impact. Your contribution will help provide healing, education, and empowerment, offering these vulnerable individuals the chance to rebuild their lives and foster resilience and peace in crisis-affected communities.

What will the funds raised help achieve?

The funds raised will directly support the implementation of art-based mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) programs for displaced and underserved communities in Nigeria. With a goal of N38,000,000 (USD $50,000), We will be able to provide Improvisational Theatre, Playback Theatre, and Creative Play interventions that address the emotional and psychological needs of individuals, particularly children, women, and survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV). These funds will help us: 1) Provide psychosocial support to over 1,500 adolescent boys and girls, empowering them to express themselves, process trauma, and build resilience through creative play and theatre. 2) Empower 100 survivors of GBV with group support sessions using Playback Theatre, helping them heal, find solidarity, and access justice services. 3) Establish the School Without Borders initiative, offering 1,000 displaced children access to creative education, filling the gap for communities lacking formal schooling. 4) Train community members in Improvisation Theatre and Playback Theatre, equipping them with valuable skills that can foster livelihood opportunities and support long-term community healing. By funding these programs, we aim to provide an innovative solution to the lack of art-based psychosocial services in Nigeria. These creative interventions will promote healing, empowerment, social cohesion, and peace in vulnerable communities. The impact will be far-reaching, as individuals affected by trauma will gain the tools needed to rebuild their lives, reduce emotional distress, and contribute to the healing of their communities.