Help Us Provide Healing and Resilience through Creative Play

We are on a mission to transform lives through the healing power of Creative Play, Playback Theatre, and Applied Improvisation in Nigeria. We aim to raise $50,000 to carry out an innovative Art-based Psychosocial Intervention using Improvisational Theatre (Improv), Applied Improvisation, Creative Play, and Playback Theatre to support displaced and underserved communities in Nigeria.

Your generous donation will help provide critical Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) to survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), those affected by conflict, and natural disasters, while fostering resilience and building peace in Nigeria’s most vulnerable communities through the transformative power of creative expression.

Why This Intervention Is So Important

Nigeria is currently grappling with large-scale displacement due to conflict and insecurity. These crises have deeply affected individuals, especially children, adolescents, women, and girls who are in urgent need of psychosocial support, education, and healing. Sadly, art-based psychosocial interventions are rare, and access to creative mental health support is limited across the country.

Our intervention aims to address this need by introducing Creative Play, Improvisational Theatre (Improv), Applied Improvisation, and Playback Theatre as powerful tools for healing, resilience-building, and promoting social cohesion in displaced and underserved communities. These art forms enable participants to express their emotions, explore their experiences, and begin the healing process in a supportive and creative environment.

Our Goals

Provide Art-based Psychosocial Support through Creative Play and Applied Improvisation: We will offer Applied Drama and Theatre activities using Creative Play to over 1,500 adolescent boys and girls in displaced communities. These activities will support mental health recovery, build resilience, and encourage emotional expression through drama, acting, and creative play, fostering a safe space for emotional healing.

Support Survivors of GBV through Playback Theatre: Over 100 women and girls survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) will gain access to support groups and justice services through our referral program, providing them with healing and empowerment through Playback Theatre. Playback Theatre offers survivors a unique opportunity to share their stories in a compassionate, non-judgmental space, helping them reclaim their voice and find healing through artistic expression.

Increase Access to Education through Creative Play and Drama (School Without Borders Initiative): We will provide creative and informal education to 1,000 displaced children using process drama, creative play, and improvisational techniques. This will offer them a chance for a brighter future, even without formal schooling, using creative expression as a powerful learning tool.

Create Livelihood Opportunities through Training in Applied Improvisation and Playback Theatre Skills (Training in Improv Theatre and Playback Theatre Skills) : We will train adolescent boys, girls, women, and other community members in Improvisation Theatre and Playback Theatre, empowering them to build support groups, create art-based programs, and use theatre as a potential livelihood within Nigeria's growing creative industry.

Child Protection and Advocacy through Applied Improvisation: We will run coordinated psychosocial support programs for children in displaced camps using Applied Improvisation and Playback Theatre to help them heal from trauma. These activities will create safe spaces for children to express themselves, develop resilience, and cope with the emotional toll of displacement.

How Your Donation Will Help

The funds raised will be used directly for the implementation of this program,

including:

Training Workshops: For trainers and community members in Applied Improvisation, Playback Theatre, and Creative Play techniques.

Creative Materials and Resources: To provide the necessary tools for creative drama activities and educational programs.

Facilitators and Mental Health Support Specialists: To guide workshops, deliver art-based psychosocial support, and provide trauma-informed care for survivors of GBV and displaced children.

School Without Borders Initiative: To establish a creative-based informal education program for displaced children, using improvisation and creative play.

Referral and Justice Services for GBV Survivors: To connect women and girls to essential legal support and services.

Why This Matters

This intervention will bring life-changing benefits to Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations. By using Creative Play, Applied Improvisation, and Playback Theatre as tools for healing, we can help to:

Heal Trauma: These creative arts offer non-verbal ways for individuals to process their emotions, express their stories, and begin their healing journey in a safe, supported environment.

Build Resilience: Improv theatre, creative play, and Playback Theatre help people overcome adversity, find strength in their creativity, and form supportive community connections.

Foster Peace and Social Cohesion: These art forms can bridge cultural gaps, promote understanding, and create dialogue where conflict has caused division, ultimately promoting social harmony.

Create Employment Opportunities: Through creative skill-building, individuals can access employment opportunities within Nigeria’s growing creative sector, while supporting local communities.

How You Can Help

Every donation, big or small, will make a difference in bringing hope and healing to those in need. There are two ways to donate:

Online Donations: You can donate directly through our GoFundMe or Donate-NG platform by clicking on the link.

Offline Donations: For those who prefer to donate directly to our bank account, you can make a transfer to our account. Information can be found here - https://accesstoplay.org/playdonors/

How We Will Recognize Your Support

Your support is instrumental in helping us bring positive change to displaced and underserved communities in Nigeria. To honor your generosity, we are committed to recognizing your contribution in meaningful ways:

Donor Roll Recognition: We will proudly include your name (or the name of your organization, family, or group) in our donor roll on our website and in all of our major publications, reports, and program materials, showcasing your commitment to transforming lives.

Continual Updates: By contributing, you will receive regular updates on our activities, progress, and the impact of your donation. We’ll share stories of resilience, hope, and healing from the communities you are helping uplift.

Special Acknowledgments: Depending on your contribution, we may recognize your support in additional ways, such as personalized thank-you messages, features in our annual reports, social media shout-outs, and event acknowledgments.

Naming Opportunities (for larger donations): For larger donations or contributions from institutions, organizations, or family foundations, we are pleased to offer naming opportunities for specific projects, programs, or creative spaces.

Donating as an Individual or on Behalf of a Group

Whether you're donating as an individual, on behalf of a family, or as an institution or organization, your support will help:

Provide art-based psychosocial support to children, women, and survivors of conflict.

Deliver creative education to displaced children and underserved communities.

Empower adolescents, women, and marginalized groups with new skills, job opportunities, and the chance to heal and build resilience.

Together, whether as individuals or part of a collective group, your donation will make a real difference in the lives of many.

Thank You for Your Support.

Your generosity will help us create a safer, more resilient, and peaceful future for those affected by conflict and displacement in Nigeria. By contributing to this campaign, you are investing in the mental health, education, and future of vulnerable children, women, and communities. Together, we can empower and transform lives through the healing power of Creative Play, Applied Improvisation, and Playback Theatre.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

For more information about Access to Play, please visit our website accesstoplay-dot-org.

Please note: Since GoFundMe does not operate in our country of operation, a trusted third-party member of our team has set up this donation on our behalf. They will transfer all received donations to Access to Play at the end of the fundraiser. Our financial team and auditors are closely monitoring all donations, and we will ensure full transparency by making all donations public for accountability.