Empowering Young People! Support my Drama Therapy MA

Hello, I'm Camila, a Brit-Colombian theatre practitioner and youth worker from London, dedicated to working with socio-economically disadvantaged young people.

The mental health crisis among UK youth is alarming, with 1 in 5 facing challenges, up from 1 in 9 in 2017. It's time these statistics change for the better!

I am training as a Drama Therapist to be part of the change to offer families and young people better mental health provision. My experience as a Youth Worker across London has shown me the desperate need for effective early mental health intervention and family support. Too many young people are falling through the cracks of our stretched education system and overburdened mental health services. My experience as a professional theatre maker and drama facilitator has shown me the healing potential of the arts for individuals as well as groups. I also have first hand experience of the life-transforming power of therapy and drama.

Through Drama Therapy, I can provide accessible, creative support that resonates with young people who need it most. Drama Therapy is used in various clinical and community settings such as the NHS and schools with challenging behaviours and it is particularly helpful for trauma survivors.

I am asking for your support toward becoming a qualified Drama Therapist at Anglia Ruskin University. This is a full-time two-year Masters program teaching me to use creativity and therapy to provide crucial mental health support to young people, primarily those aged between 10-18. It will allow me to register with the Health and Care Professions Council which is a legal requirement for practising Drama Therapists in the UK.

As the duration of the course is longer than a typical One year Masters, the government loan will cover less than half of my costs. This means I have to cover 60% of the total course and living costs! The full time and intensive nature of the course means my ability to work alongside it is limited.

I aim to raise £11,350 for:

Your support will help me use my youth work and drama background to specialize in Drama Therapy. I aspire to be part of the change to create transformative early interventions for young people and families in need. Will you be part of the change too?

Donors will have the option to sign up for my termly newsletter, where I will share updates on my journey.

If you’d like to know more about my plans or have any questions, please reach out! In the meantime, here is a video about one of the Youth projects I helped run in South London:

Thank you for your generosity!