HHA is working in conjunction with Althea Gray, a consulate for Sri Lanka, and Lisa Powers, networker for this project, to raise funds for:

• Children’s Art and Play Therapy programs
• Preserving the arts of Sri Lanka
• Conflict resolution
• Clinical Director that can commit 1-2 years in Sri Lanka to set up project
• Intern to begin the Art Therapy with the children

Althea has done the groundwork with Sri Lanka University psychiatrists that are receptive to this project, as well as, established housing. She would go over initially with the Clinical Director and/or intern to get them set up in Sri Lanka. Althea has funds already raised for her own expenses. As consulate, she spends 3-5 weeks at a time in Sri Lanka twice a year. She is based out of Santa Fe, NM.

There is a great need for help with the children of Sri Lanka. Children with any mental issues, even from post Tsunami trauma, are put in hospitals with adults. The families give up involvement and leave the children under care of the institutions.
There is the hope that through work with the children, using art therapy and eventually play therapy, the families will come back around. This in turn will create a much more peaceful atmosphere and help to facilitate conflict resolution. Althea and Lisa are researching the possibility of matching donations from Deepak Chopra’s Peace Team. They do matching donations for non-profits and help mediate peace initiatives.

Because of all the warring, much of Sri Lanka’s arts are being destroyed. Althea hopes to address this after the children’s programs have been established.

Lisa Powers is researching JFK University (top in Art Therapy programs in the US) for possible candidates and support for the Art Therapy positions and projects.

Ingrid Davis (Board member of HHA) is designing the art therapy program for the children and we plan to start grant writing very soon.

When HHA started, one of our initial projects, that was approved for our 501(c)(3), was Sri Lanka. Bonnie Masi had been coordinating with Richard Warren and his contact, Sharif Abdul, to set up a spiritual University to work on conflict resolution beginning with the children.

Unfortunately, Richard Warren died suddenly and Bonnie was never able to connect with Sharif, who was in Sri Lanka.
Now, Sri Lanka comes up again with a very similar premise. We are excited and pleased to have this opportunity!