Syrian Refugee Uses Art Therapy to Help Others in Egypt

African refugees paint during one of John Milad Art Therapy workshops in Cairo, Egypt. July 22, 2017.

John Milad is seen during one of his workshops for African refugees in Cairo, Egypt, July 22, 2017.

Reham Refaat is an art therapist and assistant to John Milad. She says “The idea of art therapy in general is that you try to transform the negative energy people have within, either due to traumas or bad experiences they faced in their lives, and you try to provide a space where people can transform and release this energy into something positive.”

Somali refugee children paint during one of Aini’s classes in Al Hay Al Asher in Cairo, Egypt, Nov 1, 2017.

Aini Abukar Ga'al, Somali refugee and human rights activist says “When we hear such a kind, we remember a lot of what has happened. It revives, you know. The sound of the bullets, and the sound of the explosion.”