Art is more than just drawing by Lilia Andritchi

​Art, a way of connection between migrant children and the volunteers.

​Introduction: I Light Global is a U.S.-based charity founded by Dr. Rajeev and renowned Indian artist Dalip Chandolia, beginning with art projects for children who were out of school. The initiative was initially met with skepticism, as using art to encourage children to return to education was a new and experimental idea.

When I first met with Dr. Rajeev and Tatiana at I Light Global, Dr. Rajeev explained that some people doubted the value of the art lessons offered to migrant children, not because the lessons or methods were lacking, but because they believed the children should focus on learning to read and count. Of course, reading and math are essential for any child’s education, but art also holds a special place in nurturing creativity and emotional growth. After witnessing firsthand the beautiful, caring, and inspiring work the volunteers and teachers were doing with the children, I was deeply moved. That experience inspired me to write this article.

Art, a way of connection between migrant children and the volunteers and teachers.

One of the greatest strengths of art is its simplicity, it demands only curiosity, time, and a space to create. For communities where opportunities are limited, for migrant children, art classes can be very important. They offer children a place to belong, a place of equality, a place where you can tell your story through art, a place to express yourself and to discover your desires, and most importantly a place to connect.

For us adults, volunteers and teachers, art becomes a beautiful way to listen, not through interrogation and correction, but through observation. A teacher who looks closely at a child’s drawing learns to read more than lines and colors; they learn to recognize emotion, imagination, and longing. At that moment, the adult is not an authority figure, but someone who says, “I see you” , “ I understand you” , “ I feel you”.

This kind of listening for us volunteers, strange people for them, is powerful and essential because it creates connection without pressure. A child who cannot find words for sadness might paint a storm, rain, to use a lot of cold colors, straight lines or not to use colors at all. One who dreams of safety might draw a house surrounded by trees. A child who dreams and is optimistic, uses a lot of warm and bright colors, sun and rainbow. And most importantly, through these moments of creation and connection, the children begin to trust that their voices matter, even when they are not spoken aloud. And most importantly, through these moments of creation and connection, the children begin to 2 trust that their voices matter, even when they are not spoken aloud. And most importantly, through these moments of creation and connection, the children begin to trust that their voices matter, even when they are not spoken aloud. And most importantly, through these moments of creation and connection, the children begin to trust that their voices matter, even when they are not spoken aloud. They confirm that the child’s inner world matters and that their emotions and desires are worthy of attention.

For many children, especially for migrant children, the volunteer who encourages their creativity becomes more than just their teacher, but a listener and a mentor who discovers the child’s inner world. Art classes at I Light Global, is more than just drawing, it is a quiet dialogue between us, the volunteers and the migrant children. And most importantly the children begin to trust that their voices matter, even when they are not spoken aloud.