M.odel the clay how creative gesturefrom growth and of accompaniment to healing. Art therapy can do a lot for relieve pain, fear and frustration of the disease, not just for adults. For children and young people forced into long periods in the hospital, this activity can be one significant part of the cure. Just to support the sick children and their families, for several years Lene Thun Onlus Foundation offers recreational therapy workshops through clay modeling, mainly in the wards of pediatric oncohematology on the national and European territory. The goal is to guarantee a service to the children in care that counts today 52 permanent ceramic-therapy laboratorieseven in digital mode, in 33 hospitals. We talked about it with the Doctor Paola Adamo, Charity General Manager of the Lene Thun Foundation and CSR Director Lenet Group.
Volunteers with hands and heart: a virtuous system
All this is made possible thanks to over 500 volunteers internal to the Thun company / Lenet Group and external, ceramists and art therapists who donate their time “With hands and heart”. And thanks to the small ones donations collected from the points of sale. An innovative model because the Lenet group acts as a meeting point that involves public and private, company and community. The hospitals, the more than 1,000 companies of the Lenet network, each of which adopts the laboratory closest to its headquarters and contributes with donations and involving employees with voluntary actions. Consumers on the occasion of fundraising activities related to the purchase of THUN products, White Porcelain, Domestic Rituals, Roses & Tulips. And the 16 voluntary associations throughout the country.
Employees of the Lenet Group in working hours can participate as volunteers in the activities of the workshops after having been trained. Or they support the Foundation by making their skills available. The logic is that of the “little to many”: every small contribution, within a virtuous system, is fundamental. In this case, the union is really strength.
Which hospitals offer ceramic therapy laboratories to children oncology patients?
“In 2014, when the Foundation opened the first permanent ceramic-therapy laboratories, we decided to focus the service in a very specific area: the pediatric one. pediatric oncohematology. Over time, many facilities have asked us to expand the business to other pediatric wards: this is why in many hospitals we are active with more laboratories.
The Lene Thun Foundation alongside children in hospitals across Europe
To date we are mainly present in the Oncohematology departments, but also in Pediatrics, Pediatric Surgery And Child Neuropsychiatry. Currently the 33 hospitals are involved, of which 31 in Italy and 2 abroad. Thanks to the widespread presence of our laboratories, the Lene Thun Foundation over the years it has become the most widespread non-profit organization in Italy that deals with recreational therapy through clay modeling », explains Paola Adamo.
Here is the link with the map of the hospitals where ceramic therapy is performed.
More than a game, a growth tool
“Taking advantage of the many experiences made in previous years, we have understood that the proposed activities are extremely useful because they accompany them along the path of growth thanks to the development of manual and interpersonal skills. By increasing self-esteem and the creativity thanks to great freedom of expression offered by clay modeling. For these reasons we wanted to support, in particular, the children and adolescents in developmental age.
Not a simple pastime
There ceramic-therapy through the clay modeling should not be confused with any recreational activity to pass the time and alleviate the boredom of the hospital, but its value is represented by the fact that it is, to all intents and purposes, to different extent and at different levels, of a form of self-expressionand therefore a possibility of access to the inner world of the child through modalities of communication and of non-verbal expression “explains Paola Adamo.
Children in the hospital: how a ceramic therapy meeting works
«“ Giving joy to oneself and to others ”was the life motto of the Countess Lene Thun and us with this positive approach, we want to be close to children and their families at a difficult time in their lives. When we open a ceramic therapy laboratory, the child and his needs for growth, as well as the development of his creativity and dexterity are at the center of every action. A team of professional potters, art therapists and volunteers – trained to work in illness contexts – they are ready to welcome the children and guide every meeting. Together they set up the room where the activity takes place and “like butterflies” they propose modeling to the children in the ward, without impositions and gradually, making sure they feel at ease.
Shaping and expressing emotions
With clay, mirettes and brushes you free your imagination and yes transforms the clay stick into an instrument for the passage of one’s emotions. Besides the free modeling of clay, children are involved in the creation of collective projects to be exhibited in public places, as works of art », explains Paola Adamo.
Why can ceramic therapy help with fear and pain?
There handling of clay it represents, to varying degrees and at different levels, a form of self-expression. A possibility of access to the inner world through modalities of non-verbal communication and expression. Touch is one of the first communication channels used by human beings, central in the first years of life and therefore particularly suitable for expressing deep and otherwise difficult to communicate instances. This activity concretely helps children and teenagers to overcome the fear, pain and frustration of illnessputting the body in a position to receive better care, reducing stress.
A stimulus to enhance healing
Art therapy through the manipulation of clay and interaction with operators and other children in the hospital stimulates the “healthy part” of the little patient through play, creativity, socialization. All fundamental elements for development in childhood and adolescence. The goal of these laboratories is to ensure that these elements do not fail during illness and hospitalization. But rather that they become tools to be added to the pharmacological and psychological therapies already implemented to enhance healing.
Children in hospital and art therapy: the benefits
“There is a growing awareness of the importance of recreational therapy, particularly through art. This is confirmed by the many doctors and health professionals who support us with their professionalism in the hospitals where we operate. But also the members of the Scientific Committee of the Foundation, who define the guidelines with methodological rigor and monitor their application. Many studies confirm the effectiveness ofrecreational activity as a support to medical-pharmacological therapy. But also as a tool to improve the quality of life of children during the course of treatment»Concludes Paola Adamo.
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