Helping Women Recover and Heal
There is nothing more healing than working with clay and letting your creativity play!
I am passionate about working with clay and helping others connect with their hearts through art. From 2024-2025, I taught basic sculpture techniques at a charity to women who had been trafficked and exploited. I used my skills and experience as a sculptor and art teacher and designed and implemented a new “Pottery Empowerment Program” as part of the charity's skill-deveopment program. ​
Pottery Empowerment Program and its benefits!
Within just a few months, the program was established and a partner charity down the street was also secured to help us in the firing and glazing of the pieces made by the women. By month six, we already had an inventory of pottery pieces the charity could sell and proceeds began to go back into funding the organization's work to house, support, upskill, heal and empower these women to indepence with a dignified job. Alongside offering these women the opportunity to heal throught the arts, this new program also secured a new, sustainble financial pipeline for the organization.​
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To learn more about the "Pottery Empowerment Program" I set up, please see my latest e-newsletters below where you can read first-hand stories about what it was like working with this vulnerable poplulation:
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Newsletters
Feb. 2025 - Endings & Beginnings
Oct. 2024 - Fall Firing & Future Exhibition
July 2024 - Pottery & Outreach to the Brothels
A Damaris video that showcases their skills-development program. You'll see me teaching the ladies toward the end of this one-minute video.
Damaris is a Christian nonprofit organization that operates two safe houses in Athens, Greece, and offers a long-term recovery program (3-7 years) for women and their children who have been or are at a high risk of sexual exploitation or trafficking. Its program is designed to guide survivors into full rehabilitation and reintegration into society by addressing the following needs:
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Trauma and mental health support
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Offering vocational training for the workplace environment
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Giving access to public services for documents and social integration
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Teaching life skills, personal goals, relationship management, and parenthood
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Providing access to medical services and daily hygiene​​
Human Trafficking
Due to Greece's geographical location bridging the East to the West in Europe -- and prostitution also being legal in Greece -- Greece is inundated with 80% of all European human trafficking, often being the country of transit where women are kept for 3 months then shipped to a final destination. (Spain currently has the highest demand in Europe).
Greece also has refugees landing on Greek islands. One in three ships that set sail will make it; the other two go missing. These populations are desperate. Women refugees can often fall prey to trafficking, as well.
Thank You
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about Damaris and this cause which is close to my heart!
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May we all find peace, inspiration and healing through the arts!
(Pictured) my pastel drawing (2011) after Gregory Colbert's "Boy Reading to Elephant".
(Pictured above) Some pottery dishes the ladies and I made together my first week volunteering at CHD. April 2024
I Hope...
Through learning about this charity and program, it is my hope that you might gain a better understanding of the complexities and intricacies of human trafficking.
Through this volunteer work it was and continues to be my intention to be a voice for these women who need our help, and to shine a light on the issue of trafficking (modern slavery) in particular. It really is an international issue and largely a women's issue (though men are also falling victim).
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Like with all big issues, the more we know, the more empowered we are to take action -- even in small ways. Please subscribe below to my newsletter and join the journey with me!