Some time ago, some organizations linked to the issue of freedom of expression, education and art as a vehicle of communication offered me the opportunity to develop a small project aimed primarily at children from migrant families.
The idea essentially consisted of inspiring those young people who might have some interest in drawing to cultivate it, not only as a simple hobby or a mere artistic skill, but also as a form of expression, of communication.
That is, empowering them with an alternative to exercise their freedom of expression in a dynamic way, putting situations or experiences into images where words might not be enough.
A medium that could be useful to tell the people around them and the world in general, in a creative way, their desires, their needs, their feelings, their worries, their emotions. In short, to communicate by telling your own story.
We decided that the tutorials would be in video format, spoken in Spanish, since our first interest was to make it accessible to Latino migrant children, but with English subtitles so that it could be useful to more people out there.
Thinking about the format, I came to the conclusion that the best way to encourage others to draw and share their story was precisely by drawing and sharing mine. So the series of tutorials has my own experience during my first exile as a common thread, starting with my story in Nicaragua in the 80s that led me to be one more migrant child.
Throughout the series (which is not very long either, since we are talking about five chapters to keep it as compact as possible) I will be working, at the same time that I share drawing tips, a comic about my personal story. Those who follow it will be able to download it later in the final chapter, as proof that if the necessary effort is invested, in the end you can create something totally yours to share with others.
I am pleased that we can offer this series also in CONFIDENTIALthe Nicaraguan outlet that has been the main home of my work for almost a decade now, despite the challenges that the last turbulent years of our country’s history have imposed on those of us who practice independent journalism.
Although the series is aimed primarily at children and adolescents, especially migrant children, anyone, regardless of their age or personal history, can take advantage of it if they are interested enough in exploring this wonderful form of expression that is drawing. .
I hope you can join me on this new adventure and get to see your own drawn stories.
