Since 2012, CPI has collaborated with local partners in Haiti, a country recovering from a major earthquake and a hurricane, and now suffering from civil unrest.
Despite the challenges, CPI initiated a series of mask-making workshops with artist Didier Civil.
By including girls, we challenge gender norms and provide new role models.
In 2022, CPI expanded the workshop to reach 200 children. Talented artists emerged, with one becoming a regular participant in CPI’s program.
In April 2023, we had our first Storytelling workshop, and in the fall, we are launching in several schools, serving hundreds of children.
CPI empowers Haitian children, fostering resilience and community spirit. Through mask-making and storytelling, they express themselves, find joy, and reclaim their cultural heritage.
The mask-making workshop doesn’t just teach the motivated, curious and talented kids how to work with papier-mâché. We also train mask-making teachers, who can augment existing workshops as well as create new ones. They’ll ensure that mask-making continues to be taught in Haiti.
children are the future
Children Singing and Dancing in Haiti during CPI mask-making diploma ceremony.
Regardless of the age of the children attending CPI and Didier Civil’s workshops, they embrace the craft, week after week, and create highly individual art pieces.
By including girls, we challenge gender norms and provide new role models. Including girls in the workshop, and an advanced artisan group, lets everyone know that girls can participate in the traditionally all-male world of mask-making.
The children, boys and girls, have joined a community of esteemed artists. This summer we have two artist visits on the program. CPI makes every effort to integrate the storytelling workshops into the host communities.
Mask-making holds deep cultural significance in Haiti, where it is regarded as a cherished traditional art form. To ensure that the mask-making workshops truly embody and reflect the essence of Haitian culture, we strive to integrate them with their surroundings. Didier, a seasoned artist, and educator, has together with ChildsPlay International developed a comprehensive mask-making curriculum that serves as a practical guide for future instructors worldwide.
The curriculum curated and developed by ChildsPlay International is an invaluable resource for educators, transcending geographical boundaries and reaching beyond Haiti. Its accessibility to teachers outside of Haiti empowers them to deliver mask-making workshops effectively, making it a sustainable endeavor. By sharing his knowledge, Didier aims to preserve the art form while fostering its growth in communities worldwide. Through this global collaboration, the art of mask-making can continue to thrive, connecting people across diverse cultures and enriching their understanding of Haiti’s vibrant heritage.
Mask-Making is a Global Tradition
Mask-making is a universal phenomenon that extends far beyond geographical boundaries, including within the United States. Regardless of culture, masks often embody celebration, and individuals invest significant time and effort into their creation. While these celebrations may be fleeting, the process of crafting masks becomes a memorable and deeply personal experience. In this way, mask-making serves to reinforce one’s identity, even if the masks themselves represent other individuals or entities, such as Voodoo demons during Carnaval.
By teaching Haitian children the art of traditional mask-making, we provide them with an opportunity to cultivate a profound sense of self-worth and an elevated understanding of their own identity. This becomes especially crucial in the face of adversities like earthquakes, hurricanes, and poverty that Haitian communities endure. Despite these challenges, engaging in the creative process of mask-making enables children to access a sense of pride and resilience. By emphasizing the significance of mask-making, CPI recognizes the transformative power of play in fostering personal growth and empowerment
ChildsPlay International’s Advisory Board Member Dr. Jean-Elie Gilles recently held a Storytelling Session for 15 children ages 9-12 at the Cours Privés Saint Ignace e Loyola in Jacmel, Haiti. CPI spoke with him about how the children reacted to what – for them – was a new, exciting experience. The workshop storytelling workshop was so popular amongst children and teachers that we are rolling out a program in several schools in the fall. Stay tuned!
Read our blog about Dr. Gilles Storytelling Session here.
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CPI is a nonprofit tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the U.S, Internal Revenue Code.
Registered Charity: EIN 85-0677829
Link to CPI’s Annual Report 2024 here
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