As a volunteer teacher in Thailand, we aim to create a comprehensive curriculum for our students to create transformative learning experiences. At International Volunteer Community Association, we don’t simply teach English. We teach all aspects of life with a number of amazing topics and in a variety of avenues, including through the arts. We want to make a difference in the lives of these children that will impact them forever.

This project in particular, Art for Peace, brought together teachers from across the world to hone in on creating peace amongst different cultures while learning at the same time. Through connective pathways we strive to promote thought, inquiry, creativity, and empowerment for the students to express themselves. With painting and hands-on activities, the students gain a new perspective on how to truly build life lessons on a basic understanding of peace and how to spread peace not only in the classroom but in everyday life.

We invite future volunteers to join us in teaching the youth of Thailand how to learn in this way and to flourish with this type of teaching. As a result, we hope our students will carry on with them a deeper level of understanding and problem-solving, a passion for learning that extends beyond books and powerpoints. Tapping into the creative side of their brains allows for them to retain the lessons in a way that may be different than what they are used to. Allowing for expressive and imaginative engagement, teaching through art has proven to be effective in the way of keeping attention, retention, and providing equity among different children and how they each learn differently.

“As the arts inspire creativity in each of us individually, they breathe life into our communities.”  – JFK