Through our Arts and Music Programme we provide art education for the teenagers in Ulaanbaatar’s Boys’ Prison.
For these young men, many of who have come from backgrounds characterised by poverty, hardship, and emotional pain, dedicated time for self-expression is particularly valuable and can play an important role in the rehabilitation process.
Through weekly lessons in visual art students are able to discover their creative talents and learn about aspects of themselves they had never before known existed. This can be a liberating and empowering experience for the boys who as a result of the creative sessions often learn to channel and express difficult emotions in a constructive and healing way.
The positive impact that teaching art has on the boys can be clearly seen in their thoughtful responses given to a questionnaire about their experience of art in prison. Through reading their comments below we hope to give you a unique insight into the important part art plays in helping these boys to develop and grow as centered, compassionate young men.
For these young men, many of who have come from backgrounds characterised by poverty, hardship, and emotional pain, dedicated time for self-expression is particularly valuable and can play an important role in the rehabilitation process.
Through weekly lessons in visual art students are able to discover their creative talents and learn about aspects of themselves they had never before known existed. This can be a liberating and empowering experience for the boys who as a result of the creative sessions often learn to channel and express difficult emotions in a constructive and healing way.
The positive impact that teaching art has on the boys can be clearly seen in their thoughtful responses given to a questionnaire about their experience of art in prison. Through reading their comments below we hope to give you a unique insight into the important part art plays in helping these boys to develop and grow as centered, compassionate young men.
 | 1) What do you enjoy about art class? Person A: Expressing my thoughts and feelings through images. Person B: Thinking creatively and drawing from my imagination. Person C: Learning to think freely in a positive, quiet, and calm environment. Person D: When I’m drawing something I like, I become calm and daydream – it’s very nice. Person E: The best part is looking over my paintings once I have finished. |
| 3) How do you feel when you are creating art? Person A: Cheerful and self-confident. Person B: Happy, self-confident, motivated and proud. Person C: Cheerful, self-confident, proud; it makes me feel good about myself. Person D: When I look at my creations it feels amazing. Person E: When I am creating art inspired by my dreams and desires I try to feel deeply from my heart and sense everything as I draw. 2) How do you feel art has helped you? Person A: It has helped me to approach things with a positive mindset, be more open and calm and to finish what I have started. Person B: I now have more peace of mind and my rash temper has become milder; it is helping me to become a good person. Person C: I used to be lazy and incapable of doing anything. Now that I can draw I have become more motivated as I know that I can accomplish anything I put my mind to. Through art I have learned to think creatively and plan ahead of time. I used to be impatient, angry, and easily frustrated. Since taking art class my attention span has improved and I can finish what I started. I’ve also become more calm and gentle when interacting with others. I have a better understanding of society and have realized that different aspects of life have different colours. I’ve become motivated to experience the good parts of work and life. Person D: It calms me down. It uplifts my mind when I can portray my imagination on paper. I get a great feeling when I paint beautiful nature in different colours.I used to be very lazy and had no interest in doing anything, but now I’m more active and think more uplifting, positive thoughts. I think I’ve become much more relaxed since I began painting. Person E: Art has changed my mindset and helped to develop my creativity and imagination. I now think that I can draw and give shape to whatever I see. I have become more emotionally stable, tolerant of others and patient. It has helped me to become more respectful, loving and trusting. I’ve become more open with others, and compassionate; I look at things from other people’s point of view not just my own. |  The boys enjoyed working with clay  Striking self-portrait by one of our teenagers  This beautiful image was recently sold at a CNCF fundraising auction in America |
3) How do you feel when you are creating art?
Person A: Cheerful and self-confident.
Person B: Happy, self-confident, motivated and proud.
Person C: Cheerful, self-confident, proud; it makes me feel good about myself.
Person D: When I look at my creations it feels amazing.
Person E: When I am creating art inspired by my dreams and desires I try to feel deeply from my heart and sense everything as I draw.
Person A: Cheerful and self-confident.
Person B: Happy, self-confident, motivated and proud.
Person C: Cheerful, self-confident, proud; it makes me feel good about myself.
Person D: When I look at my creations it feels amazing.
Person E: When I am creating art inspired by my dreams and desires I try to feel deeply from my heart and sense everything as I draw.
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