ACADEMY OF CARE

The Academy of Care (AoC) in Yangon offers a comprehensive two-month on-site program aimed at training participants to facilitate creative therapies, with a particular focus on trauma management. The program follows a non-accredited, certificate-based curriculum where participants gain hands-on experience in art therapy, music therapy, and dramatherapy. These practical skills equip them to initiate and lead community projects, supported by seed funding and mentorship. Led by both international and local experts, AoC’s mission is to strengthen cultural infrastructure while addressing mental health challenges and fostering societal change through empathy and creative therapeutic approaches. 

Art therapy leverages creative mediums such as drawing, painting, and sculpting to provide therapeutic outlets for individuals and groups to explore emotions, experiences, and challenges. Through this form of expression, participants are encouraged to articulate and process complex emotions in a supportive environment, fostering personal insights and emotional healing.  

Music therapy uses the healing power of music—whether through listening, playing instruments, or singing—to trigger emotional and psychological healing. It promotes group cohesion and helps individuals express and regulate their emotions, leading to enhanced emotional well-being.  

Drama therapy employs techniques like role-playing, improvisation, and storytelling to address emotional and psychological challenges. By engaging in structured dramatic activities, participants can explore personal narratives, improve interpersonal relationships, and develop deeper self-awareness.

AoC tackles key challenges in Myanmar, including widespread individual and collective trauma, as well as limited access to formal education in creative therapies. By emphasizing the use of creative therapies, the program provides meaningful pathways to healing. It empowers communities to engage in self-care amidst difficult circumstances, fostering healthier and more peaceful societies. 

AoC integrates reflective practices designed to enhance self-awareness, critical thinking, and personal development. Participants engage with a range of therapeutic models, exercises, and self-care techniques across art, music, and drama therapy, equipping them with the skills to offer effective trauma-informed support while also maintaining their own well-being and resilience.  

The program emphasizes hands-on learning over theoretical knowledge, particularly in trauma-informed care. This practical focus ensures that participants are well-prepared to apply their skills and intervention techniques in real-world community settings.  

AoC also provides continued support through its alumni network, AoCA (Academy of Care Alumni). This network offers peer supervision and mentorship from trainers, particularly for those who receive seed funding for community projects. Participants engage in practice-based learning sessions with both internal and external audiences, further refining their facilitation skills in art, music, and drama therapy techniques.  

The Academy of Care (AoC) equips participants with the essential skills needed to facilitate creative therapy workshops, empowering them to:  

• Art for Health Workshops: Teach participants how to use art as a therapeutic tool to support self-care and navigate trauma.  
• Music for Health Workshops: Leverage music as a medium for emotional healing and building group connections.  
• Drama for Health Workshops: Facilitate drama-based techniques to help address emotional and mental challenges, encouraging collective healing in a supportive environment. 

While AoC trainers are experienced therapists, completing the program does not qualify participants as licensed therapists. The non-accredited, certificate-based program emphasizes practical skills and techniques, but it does not provide formal accreditation or licensure in the field of therapy. 

By completing the Academy of Care’s certificate-based Train-to-Facilitate program, participants will:  
Gain specialized knowledge in the techniques of art or music therapy, and drama therapy, equipping them to effectively facilitate creative therapies intervention techniques and approaches.  

• Develop practical skills to support trauma recovery and mental well-being within diverse communities.  
• Access the AoCA (Academy of Care Alumni) network for continued peer supervision and mentorship, fostering a strong support system.  
• Be eligible to apply for seed funding to launch community-based projects, with additional mentorship and support provided to grant recipients.  
• (Receive a certificate from the Research Institute for Dramatherapy, Sri Lanka, upon successful completion of the intensive drama therapy training.)  

The AoC Cohort 3 program progresses through following stages:

1. Initial Seminar:
The program begins with a 3-day seminar that introduces key concepts in mental health awareness and trauma-informed care. This foundational stage equips participants with the essential knowledge needed for the following phases of the program.

2. Creative Expressive Therapeutic Intervention and Facilitation Workshops:
Over the next four weeks, international therapists and experienced trainers guide participants through intensive, hands-on training in Dramatherapy, Art Therapy, and Music Therapy. These workshops, each lasting two weeks, combine interactive seminars, practical exercises, and peer-supervised practice sessions. Participants have the opportunity to choose a specialization in either Art Therapy or Music Therapy, while all participants will receive comprehensive training in Dramatherapy.

3. Proposal Development Training:
During this phase, participants focus on developing proposals for community-based projects. With guidance from mentors, they begin to design pilot projects using one or more of the creative therapy techniques they have learned. These proposals aim to bring mental health support and creative therapies to local communities upon completion of the program.

4. Practice-Based Week with Peer Supervision:
In the final stage, participants put their skills into practice by facilitating creative therapy sessions within their groups. This practice-based week, guided by peer supervision, allows participants to refine their facilitation techniques and receive feedback in a supportive learning environment.

Seed Funding
AoC’s seed funding program provides financial and mentorship support to participants, enabling them to implement their own community-based initiatives. These projects are designed to extend the impact of the AoC training by applying creative therapeutic techniques learned during the program, such as art, music, and drama therapies, to address mental health challenges within local contexts.

The seed-funded projects aim to create a lasting ripple effect by promoting mental well-being and awareness through workshops, educational campaigns, and hands-on therapeutic activities in underserved or vulnerable communities. Participants are encouraged to tailor their initiatives to the specific needs of their regions, ensuring that the creative approaches are culturally relevant and accessible. 

In addition to financial backing, recipients of the seed funding receive ongoing mentorship from AoC trainers and peers, helping them refine their projects, overcome challenges, and maximize their impact. By supporting these projects, the seed funding program not only empowers participants to lead change but also helps cultivate sustainable mental health initiatives that continue long after the program concludes.

Highlights from Cohort 2 (May - July 2024):
Cohort 2 participants underwent intensive training led by eight experienced psychiatrists and international therapists specializing in creative therapies. Experts from Singapore (Lasalle College of the Arts), Germany (University of Music and Drama Hamburg), Israel, Pakistan, Sri Lanka (Research Institute for Dramatherapy), and Myanmar offered diverse perspectives on creative therapy practices, enriching the participants' learning experience.

The 13 participants, who received full scholarships, came from diverse regions across Myanmar, including Myitkyina (Kachin), Hpa-An (Kayin), Loikaw (Kayah), Taunggyi (South Shan), Lashio (Northern Shan), Kyein Tone (Northern Shan), Maungdaw (Rakhine), Gwa (Rakhine), Hlegu, Kawt Hmu (Yangon), and Hakha (Chin). Representing a variety of professional backgrounds—such as educators, early childhood educators, youth leaders, lawyers, counselors, artists, community leaders, and nurses—they established a strong network. Through this connection, they gained a deeper understanding of the unique challenges faced in different regions and are committed to supporting one another. 

After the first 6 weeks of training with local and international experts, participants engaged in hands-on workshops and practice-based sessions, deepening their understanding of creative therapies and preparing to apply these approaches within their communities.

The group participated in a practice-based week, where they applied the knowledge gained during the training. They first practiced internally with each other to digest their learning before hosting an Open House event at the Goethe-Institut Myanmar. During the event, they facilitated workshops in group settings, sharing their learning journey with external guests. 

Before returning to their hometowns, participants received proposal writing training to help them apply for seed funding grants to launch their own community-based initiatives. These initiatives aim to spread mental health awareness and promote mental well-being and healing through creative therapy approaches within their communities.

Five participants, representing four projects, were successfully selected for grant funding through a pitching and selection process conducted by the program jury team. The selected projects will focus on supporting both youth, elderly and primary caregivers from the Chin, Shan, Yangon, and Bago regions. The grant recipients will implement their 3.5-month projects, with final reports expected by December 2024.

This hands-on experience and project support will enable participants to continue promoting mental health awareness and facilitating healing through creative therapies in their respective communities.

Cohort 3 Program Highlight: World Mental Health Day, October 10-12, 2024:
During this week, AoC will collaborate with international therapists for public talks and intervention activities. Participants from Cohort 3 will gain hands-on experience and engage with the public, alongside AoC alumni, to promote mental well-being.

World Mental Health Days (WMHD) 2024: Mindful October – Creative Paths to Mental Wellbeing and Healing
In honor of World Mental Health Days (WMHD) 2024, we proudly present Mindful October: Creative Paths to Mental Wellbeing and Healing, a three-day event focused on promoting mental well-being through creative and cultural activities. From October 10 to 12, 2024, join us at Goethe-Institut Myanmar for a meaningful experience that fosters resilience, emotional healing, and personal growth, particularly for Myanmar’s youth and broader communities.

This event is co-hosted by Academy of Care (AoC), Goethe-Institut Myanmar, British Council, European Union, Institut Français de Birmanie, and our local partners. Together, we aim to address mental health challenges by harnessing the power of creative expression, with a special focus on trauma recovery.

Event Highlights:
Throughout these three days, participants will have the opportunity to engage in:

• Workshops on art therapy, music therapy, and drama therapy, led by both local and international experts.
• Theatre performances and poetry readings with music performance that explore themes of emotional well-being and mental health.
• Short film screenings and youth dialogues to encourage open discussions about mental well-being and emotional resilience.
• These interactive activities are designed to help participants explore mental health through creative avenues, building coping skills, managing stress, and expressing emotions in a supportive, nurturing environment.

Partners:
This event is a collaboration between  Goethe-Institut Myanmar, the Academy of Care, British Council, European Union, Institut Français de Birmanie, and local partners.

Trauma management is of utmost importance in the Myanmar of today. Though the topic of mental health remains to a great extent taboo throughout Myanmar, it is being recognized more and more as a pressing issue that must be addressed. It can no longer be ignored. Dialogues concerning  mental health are arising with greater frequency. People are finding the courage to seek support. Similarly, a growing acknowledgment of a situation characterized by acute urgency is emerging from the pandemic, recent political and economic events in the country, widespread conflict, and national instability. 

AoC’s mission: develop and provide professional expertise over the long term. What is learned, the practical experience that participants gain, and the established network will enable them to help people of all ages to “work through” their traumatic experiences. The Academy’s creative components will facilitate this process while breaking the grip of taboos. Once participants have completed the qualification program, they may be entitled to seed funding to set up their own initiatives and projects. These in turn will be accompanied by a mentor program.

The Academy of Care program includes a two-month training course that begins with a collective introductory training phase concerned with alternative methods and approaches in the field of therapy & the arts. Two weeks of field research follow, during which participants determine the needs of their respective communities. A subsequent three-week intensive training course enables participants to become better acquainted with art-, music-, and theater therapy while developing their projects with the experts. After this phase of knowledge and experience sharing, graduates return to the communities where they intend to work.

The Academy of Care (AoC) is designed as a cultural outreach program with long-term impact, aiming to reach new target groups and strategically develop Myanmar’s cultural infrastructure. By complementing existing structures and providing "help for self-help," AoC empowers participants to drive sustainable change within their communities.  

Over the course of two years, approximately 60 to 90 individuals will be trained to initiate their own mental health projects and community interventions, supported by seed funding. These projects are designed to spread mental health awareness and creative therapeutic practices across diverse regions of Myanmar. The program’s emphasis on diversity ensures that the participants' work will also reach peripheral and underserved areas, contributing to long-term shifts in mental health understanding and advocacy in civil society.  

In addition to their individual projects, participants will strengthen networks and infrastructures of knowledge, creating a ripple effect in their communities. Their shared core motivation—empathy and care—will drive these efforts, ensuring that the work they do has a lasting impact on both individuals and broader societal frameworks. Through this approach, AoC is not just addressing immediate mental health needs but laying the foundation for enduring cultural and social transformation.  

Over the next two years, the Academy of Care (AoC) will implement its program with the following objectives in mind to achieve immediate results and advance toward its long-term goals:  

• Training New Participants: The AoC will continue to train 60 to 90 individuals, equipping them with the skills to facilitate creative therapies, such as art, music, and drama therapy, with a focus on trauma management.  
• Expanding Outreach: Participants will return to their communities to apply their training, creating local mental health initiatives and fostering awareness. This will expand the reach of the program and create a ripple effect, spreading the benefits of creative therapies across Myanmar.  
• Providing Seed Funding and Mentorship: Graduates will have access to seed funding to support their projects, along with ongoing mentorship. This support will enable them to establish sustainable initiatives that address mental health challenges in their regions.  
• Developing Cultural Infrastructure: Through the projects and collaborations initiated by graduates, AoC will contribute to the development of cultural infrastructure in underserved areas. These initiatives will complement existing mental health services and fill critical gaps in support.  
• Strengthening the Alumni Network: The Academy will continue to build and expand the AoCA (Academy of Care Alumni) network, fostering peer supervision, collaboration, and the sharing of resources among graduates.  

These actions over the next two years will ensure the immediate success of the program and lay the foundation for a lasting impact on mental health awareness and support across Myanmar.  

The long-term sustainability of the Academy of Care (AoC) project is anchored in the skills and expertise acquired by its graduates. Rather than relying on a physical structure, the program’s impact is carried forward through the knowledge and practical experience gained by participants. This knowledge, once internalized, travels with the graduates as they return to their communities and apply their newfound skills in creative therapy and trauma management.  

By equipping participants with the tools and techniques to facilitate mental health support, the AoC ensures that the impact is ongoing and adaptable to various contexts. Graduates are empowered to initiate projects, raise awareness, and offer support to individuals and groups facing mental health challenges, extending the reach of the program far beyond the training period. The seed funding and mentorship provided further reinforce this sustainability, enabling participants to develop and maintain their initiatives over time.  

In essence, the sustainability of the AoC project resides in the transferable skills and the network of trained professionals who will continue to promote mental health and creative therapeutic practices across Myanmar.

The primary goal of the Academy of Care (AoC) is to promote mental health and psychosocial support in Myanmar. This will be achieved by:  

• Enhancing "niche expertise" in creative therapies such as art, music, and theater, providing specialized knowledge to participants.  
• Creating educational platforms that focus on alternative therapeutic approaches, offering training in creative and expressive therapies to address trauma and mental health challenges.  
• Through these efforts, the AoC aims to fill critical gaps in mental health care and empower communities to utilize creative methods for healing and resilience.

• To conduct 2 to 3 train-the-trainer programs between 2023 and 2025. These programs will focus on therapeutic approaches utilizing art, music, theater, and alternative methods to equip participants with the skills needed to facilitate creative therapies.  
• To provide 3 to 5 grants (seed funding) to successful trainees from 2024 to 2025, enabling them to launch their own mental health initiatives or community-based projects using the creative therapeutic techniques learned during the program.  

• 60 to 90 candidates will be trained as "trainers" in alternative creative therapy approaches, including art, music, and theater therapies, over the course of two years. These individuals will be equipped to apply these therapeutic methods in their communities, promoting mental health support and awareness.  
• 3 to 5 startup initiatives or projects will be launched, focusing on art, music, theater-based therapy, and alternative therapeutic approaches. These projects will receive seed funding to target peripheral areas, aiming to create long-term change and increase awareness about mental health in civil society. Each project will be supported by a mentorship program to ensure success and sustainability.  
• An alumni network will be established to enable best practice sharing, knowledge exchange, and peer support among graduates. This network will provide a safety net and ongoing assistance for those implementing creative therapy initiatives in their regions.

Help for self-help will be cultivated, empowering individuals and communities to apply the skills and knowledge gained from the Academy of Care’s train to facilitate program. This will ensure the continuous application and transfer of expertise in creative therapy approaches.  

"Niche expertise" in trauma management and creative therapies will be developed and expanded to reach the largest possible group. This expertise will be applied both collectively and individually to support trauma coping mechanisms, aiming for the greatest civic and social impact.