The current pandemic is not merely a health concern. With Circuit Breaker measures, life as we knew it changed dramatically in a short span of time. While cooped up at home, many of us feared the health risks of possibly contracting the virus and were anxiously coping with adjusting to a new normal. Driven to use art for social impact, SG Strong Grantee Pamela from Artfold SG put together art kits for those affected.
Sent to over 300 beneficiaries, including family members of infected individuals and frontline workers like social workers and teachers, Artfold’s art kits provided therapeutic and engaging activities for them to manage the overwhelming stressors of dealing with the crises. For example, one of their activities, named “Unbox: ‘What’s in the box’” was designed to invite its makers to consider what is in their hearts and minds at the moment – a mindfulness practice to help beneficiaries remain in the present.
“Any small effort can have a huge ripple effect as we draw connections and nourishment from one another within the communities we live and work in.”
— Pamela Lie, Artfold SG
It was especially rewarding for her team at Artfold to receive personal messages from recipients of the art kits, many of them expressing their heartfelt gratitude for recognizing all their work on the frontlines.
The SG Strong Fund was a key support pillar for the initiative, providing the funds necessary for them to advance their goal of empowering individuals. Being a part of this forward-thinking fund for ground up groups has helped them lay the groundwork to “initiate communal and societal transformation.”
We hope that Artfold’s project will inspire you to think of ways you can apply your skills to help those around you. Together, we are stronger than COVID-19.