Creative Seeds pilot program is an international artistic exchange between under-privileged students in New York City and The Eluxolweni Boys Home in Port St. Johns, South Africa. Using photography, theatre and yoga, Creative Seeds is a preventative and post trauma program with an inventive curriculum offering arts based instruction as a vehicle for self–discovery, healing and empowerment. Through the exchange of poetry, photographs, personal stories and video, participants begin to identify with universal aspirations and struggles. Creative Seeds believes that a holistic approach is necessary for giving individuals the tools to become strong self- advocates by applying art as a means of cross-cultural communication. The culminating project is a multimedia performance in both countries, based on the connections formed, ideas shared and the work exchanged. Creative Seeds meets each person right where they are, providing a safe space to experience that we all have the ability to transform pain into power. 

The second phase of the project took us to the Eluxolweni Boys Home, in South Africa, to teach a hands-on intensive workshop in photography,theatre and yoga. In our continuing work with Eluxolweni, CS will implement a teacher-training program in theatre, photography and yoga allowing members of the community to establish long-term sustainability. In addition to the classes at the Boys Home, we offer daily open yoga classes to the community, exploring the themes of interconnectedness, health, and self-awareness. 

Creative Seeds is proud to be in partnership with Working Playground Inc. WP was founded in 1991 as a not-for-profit cultural organization based on the belief that art is essential to human development, education and culture, providing arts education and integration programs to under-served schools and communities throughout New York City.