Art for the sake of empowerment isn’t new.  Art therapy has been used extensively since the 1940s and visual expression has been used for healing throughout history.  In fact, our vision is not unique, rather it was inspired by Zana Briski’s Calcutta project, Kids with Cameras, documented in her film with Ross Kauffman, Born into brothels.

Elisa Paloschi originally went to Mysore, in the south Indian state of Karnataka, to study yoga.  She quickly began to feel a strong pull to connect with the local people and the need to become involved with the community on a deeper level.  Elisa discovered a residential home/school just outside of the city where she began to spend time each day volunteering within their arts programme. 

Odanadi, as the centre is known, is a non-governmental organization, which works to assist and support marginalized girls and women and in particular people who have survived sex and domestic trafficking.  As Elisa spent more time there and began to engage with the residents of Odanadi, it quickly became evident that the women and girls wanted to share their true selves - their dreams of the future, their fears and their stories of overcoming the experiences that brought them there.  The journey of how they arrived at a place of empowerment, confidence and positive self-identity has inspired and been inspiring. Their story has not only become the documentary Radhamma's Dream, but also has been the catalyst for Art for Empowerment.

As Elisa spent time in India working on the documentary about the girls of Odanadi who have survived the sex trade, she gained greater understanding of their stories. She recognized how empowering it would be if each individual had the opportunity to use her own voice to tell her own story, in her own creative way.

Art for Empowerment is in partnership with KEYS a not-for-profit/charitable organization based in Kingston Ontario which acts from an understanding that campassionate action means working with others in a selfless way.