{"id":871,"date":"2022-10-07T11:31:48","date_gmt":"2022-10-07T15:31:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/costi.org\/annual-reports-archive\/20212022\/?post_type=service&p=871"},"modified":"2022-12-05T10:55:56","modified_gmt":"2022-12-05T15:55:56","slug":"client-profile-3","status":"publish","type":"service","link":"https:\/\/costi.org\/annual-reports-archive\/20212022\/services\/refugee-services\/client-profile-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Client Profile"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Paola Gomez and Sara Hellali<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
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Paola Gomez, Co-Founder of Muse Arts.<\/p>\n

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\n COSTI\u2019s Youth Photography program, run in partnership with Muse Arts, is opening a whole new world of wonder and healing to young refugees. Started in 2015 with the arrival of Syrian refugees, the program has been using art in different forms to engage young people from the ages of about 13 to 22. The goal of the program is to provide a creative, safe space outside of home, where refugees can make social connections and begin to process some of their past trauma. <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

This innovative program is lead by Muse Arts Co-founder, Paola Gomez, a woman who left Colombia to come to Canada in 2004 along with her three-month old baby son. A former lawyer and refugee herself, Paola knows how especially hard it is for parents and children to adapt to a new country. She also knows the value of an organization like COSTI, its access to and support for refugees and newcomers, and had in fact, attended and benefited from English as a Second Language classes herself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThose first weeks arriving in Canada were difficult and painful for me, and it took several years to get settled. But once I did, more possibilities opened up to me, as well as the possibility to give back and I co-founded Muse Arts,\u201d she describes. This is why, when she first heard about the arrival of the Syrians in 2015, she reached out to COSTI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paola is an advocate of art as a tool for transformation and healing. The former lawyer and co-founder also has training as a social worker, and is quick to clarify that the program is not \u201ctherapy\u201d per se, but rather a way to explore creativity as a tool for resilience to overcome trauma. She fully believes that a creative person can overcome adversity and the photography program she runs through COSTI, is an example. \u201cWe can look at two things in this program: one is the cultural lens participants have to express and share their own personal point of view in the photographs they take; the second is the practical part where they are learning important lifeskills like how to use a professional camera and other photography skills \u2013 all tools they can hopefully leverage in future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Someone who experienced the benefits of COSTI\u2019s Youth Photography program is Sara Hellali, an 18-year-old woman who fled Afghanistan to Pakistan, and later arrived in Canada in February, 2022. It was a time of upheaval. \u201cAt first, I was very sad to leave my home country, but then I felt safe to go to a place to have freedom,\u201d she says. Sara, her three brothers, one sister and parents were able to access temporary shelter through COSTI for about three months \u2013 and it was during this time that she was connected to the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The workshop ran for two weeks, and included instruction from professional photographers on how to use a camera and take pictures, as well as participation in a field trip with fellow clients, an experience Sara found very inspiring. \u201cIt made me realize how beautiful our environment and nature are,\u201d she describes. It also helped bring Sara out of her shell. \u201cAt first, I was nervous and felt I can\u2019t find the right words. But slowly, slowly, I got to meet other people like me from around the world and we get to know each other.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The workshops end with a photo exhibit, and clients select their favourite pictures, which are put on display for friends and family to see. Sara chose a photo of a spider\u2019s web, which she named \u201cseeing the world through the eyes of a spider.\u201d \u201cIt gives new perspective and you are capturing a moment. Now when I look at my pictures, it reminds me of that moment and helps me find happiness.\u201d It was an experience that had quite a positive impact on her. \u201cI wish COSTI continues to provide these wonderful opportunities, it\u2019s a great beginning for a new life,\u201d says Sara.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The program has touched the lives of individuals from all corners of the globe: Syria, Haiti, countries throughout Africa and beyond. It\u2019s important work that gives Paola pride and respect for the partnership with COSTI. \u201cI see COSTI as an innovative organization that holds space for people to heal through art. I appreciate this so much. It\u2019s very powerful that an organization can give life to this work,\u201d adds Paola.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Photo by Sara Hellali<\/p>\n

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Paola Gomez and Sara Hellali This innovative program is lead by Muse Arts Co-founder, Paola Gomez, a woman who left Colombia to come to Canada in 2004 along with her three-month old baby son. A former lawyer and refugee herself, Paola knows how especially hard it is for parents and children to adapt to a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":121,"menu_order":0,"template":"","acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nClient Profile - COSTI Annual Report<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/costi.org\/annual-reports-archive\/20212022\/services\/refugee-services\/client-profile-3\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Client Profile - COSTI Annual Report\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Paola Gomez and Sara Hellali This innovative program is lead by Muse Arts Co-founder, Paola Gomez, a woman who left Colombia to come to Canada in 2004 along with her three-month old baby son. 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