Bosnian Seniors Fight Loneliness Through Arts and Crafts

Udruženje Naš Most koristi inicijative iz kulture i umjetnosti kao borbu protiv usamljenosti među starijim osobama. Više od sedam godina, neformalni sedmični sastanci pretvorili su se u formalne kurseve slikanja i rukotvorina, a članstvo je poraslo sa 30 na preko 100 starijih osoba. Udruženje također organizira događaje na kojima se izlažu radovi članova i sarađuje s drugim grupama kako bi stvarali i razmjenjivali podcaste, organizirali koncerte i ponudili druge umjetničke događaje starijim osobama.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, Our Bridge in Bosnia provided services to seniors to combat social isolation. Despite having to shut down in-person classes due to the pandemic, both groups now use online art and music classes to reach people who are isolated and at risk of depression. The group joined with the Serbian association, Art Aparat, to offer singing, art, and handicraft classes by video. In person connections are preferred and missed, but the group adapted to changing circumstances to provide even more isolated seniors with social connections, and the partnership allows for cultural exchanges.

Latin Americans for Social and Economic Development (LA SED) provides culturally relevant programming and services for the area’s predominantly Latino senior community. The Center offers a safe space for seniors to converse in their native language, take English classes, connect with the community, exercise classes, and receive necessary care like vaccinations, food distribution and other social programming and wellness-focused care.

Learning the art of hip-hop provides youth with an alternative to the violence and despair that characterize disadvantaged neighborhoods. In Medellin, Colombia, a program called 4 Elementos teaches kids dance, Dj’ing, rap, and graffiti in a structured way, providing a creative outlet. Hosted in the high school of one the cities most troubled neighborhoods, the program began as an initiative of the Colombian hip-hop group, Crew Peligrosos. Having already reached thousands of kids, the program is looking to expand across Colombia with support from the ABC Foundation.

Shirley Apthorp was inspired by Venezuela's El Sistema, a national system that provides impoverished kids access to music education. She wanted to do something similar with opera in South Africa, were the genre was once a privilege enjoyed by white people. So, Apthort created Unculo, an organization that aims to support social change through music.

Across the UK, music initiatives like the Olympias Music Foundation, Normans ReTune Project, and Nucleo are rescuing thousands of discarded instruments each year, repairing and redistributing them to children who couldn't otherwise afford to play. These initiatives train teachers and technicians to repair instruments, partnering with music hubs to collect damaged instruments, and pairing restored violins and cellos with free lessons. Students report building confidence, while the projects divert waste from landfill.

Crossing Borders Music is a group of classically-trained Western musicians who perform music from Haitian, Palestinian, Rohingya, Native American and other marginalized communities via free concerts held in libraries, cultural centers and university spaces. The goal is to not only showcase diverse cultures and musical traditions, but to build a deeper understanding of immigrants and other communities that are often overlooked. The group reaches about 10,000 people in-person and online each year, and hosted 27 free concerts in 2024.

Priya Living is an elder-living community focused on Indian culture. Priya Living has four locations throughout the state and is planning to expand in Michigan and Texas. Rent in the condo-style units ranges from $2,000 to $3,000 a month and currently serves over 530 people. This culture-focused community helps the aging population fight loneliness and find a sense of community with people they can relate to through activities and programming like yoga, movie screenings and down time to chat.

Fiddler Dennis Stroughmatt plays French Creole music, sings, and speaks in Missouri French to raise awareness about the language and culture no longer widely practiced in the region.

A growing community of young Uyghurs are working to preserve and promote their culture from the diaspora. Many online networks provide ways for young people to connect, and also offer courses on traditional culture, Uyghur language, and career networking. Other groups fundraise to help Uyghurs still in China, where they live under oppressive conditions and authorities have banned most aspects of traditional Uyghur life. Dozens of Uyghur schools have popped up around the globe, where young people, many of whom have never been to China, contribute to keeping the culture alive.