Open Call
Academy of Care
The Academy of Care (AoC) in Yangon offers a comprehensive two-month on-site program designed to train participants in facilitating creative therapies, with a strong focus on trauma management through a certificate-based curriculum. Participants gain practical expertise in art, music, and drama therapies, equipping them to initiate community projects supported by seed funding and mentorship. Led by international and local experts, AoC aims to enhance cultural infrastructure and drive societal change by promoting empathy and addressing mental health challenges.
What is Art Therapy?
Art therapy utilizes creative mediums such as drawing, painting, and sculpting to provide individuals and groups with a therapeutic outlet to explore emotions, experiences, and challenges in a supportive setting. Through artistic expression, participants can articulate and process complex feelings, fostering personal insight and emotional healing.
What is Music Therapy?
Music therapy harnesses the healing power of music—whether through listening, playing instruments, or singing—to activate emotional and psychological healing processes. It promotes connections within groups and supports individuals in expressing and regulating their emotions, enhancing overall well-being.
What is Drama Therapy?
Drama therapy utilizes dramatic techniques such as role-playing, improvisation, and storytelling to encourage bodily expression, facilitate group dynamics, and address emotional and psychological issues. By engaging in structured dramatic activities, participants explore personal narratives, build interpersonal skills, and deepen self-awareness.
AoC addresses significant challenges in Myanmar, including widespread individual and collective trauma and limited formal education in creative therapy. By emphasizing creative therapies, AoC provides pathways to healing, empowering communities to practice self-care in deeply challenging situations, and cultivate healthier, more peaceful societies.
The program integrates reflective practices to enhance self-awareness, critical thinking, and personal growth. Through various models, exercises, and self-care techniques in drama, art, and music therapy, participants develop the skills needed to offer effective support while maintaining their own well-being and resilience.
Participants actively engage in hands-on learning experiences over theoretical knowledge focused on trauma informed care. This approach prepares them to effectively apply intervention techniques in real-world settings.
AoC also offers an alumni network AoCA (Academy of Care Alumni) for peer supervision and mentoring by trainers, particularly for those who receive seed funding. Practice-based learning sessions with internal and external audiences provide opportunities for participants to refine their facilitation skills using art, music, and drama therapy techniques.
What We Can Do:
AoC equips participants with the skills, knowledge, and exercises necessary for creative expressive therapeutic intervention techniques, enabling them to:
- Facilitate Art for Health workshops, integrating creative expression into therapeutic practices. Guide participants in personalized practices that explore the significance of art therapy for individual self-care and navigating trauma.
- Facilitate Music for Health Workshops: Utilize music as a tool for emotional well-being and healing, fostering a sense of belonging within groups through collective experiences.
- Facilitate Drama for Health Workshops: Use drama techniques to explore and address mental and emotional challenges, creating a supportive environment for group interactions and collective healing.
While our trainers are experienced therapists, completing our program does not qualify you as a licensed therapist. Our program is certificate-based rather than accredited, emphasizing practical skills and techniques over formal licensure. Participants gain proficiency in applying creative therapies within specific contexts, but they do not receive official therapeutic accreditation through our program.
What do I gain by completing the Academy of Care’s certificate-based Train-to-Facilitate program?
By completing the program, you will gain specialized expertise in both the theoretical and practical aspects of art, music and drama therapy intervention techniques. This training will enable you to effectively apply and utilize these skills across diverse groups, support individuals and communities working through trauma, and maximize your impact in civic and social contexts.
Benefits include hands-on experience and access to the AoCA. Participants can create a regional network of peers and apply for seed funding for their own initiatives. Those who receive seed grants will also benefit from mentorship and peer supervision.
Participants will receive a certificate awarded by the Research Institute for Dramatherapy, Sri Lanka upon completion of the drama therapy intensive training.
Highlights from Cohort 2 (May - July 2024)
Cohort 2 experienced in-depth intensive training led by eight experienced psychiatrists, along with international art, music, and drama therapists from Singapore, Germany, Israel, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar. This diverse range of experts provided a broad and enriched perspective on creative therapy practices.
Cohort 3 Program Highlight: World Mental Health Day, 10 October 2024
During the week of World Mental Health Day, October 10-12, 2024, the Academy of Care will collaborate with esteemed international therapists for public talks and intervention activities. Participants from Cohort 3 will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and support, alongside alumni, in engaging with the audience during these events.
Cohort 3
This two-month program offers full scholarships to support some of the participants. Please note that not all applicants will receive a scholarship; only selected individuals will be awarded based on the application criteria. Program Timeline:
3rd week of September – 4th week of November 2024
The program progresses through following stages:
1. Initial Seminar:
The program kicks off with a 3-day seminar focusing on mental health awareness, and trauma-informed care.
2. Creative Expressive Therapeutic Intervention and Facilitation Workshops:
International therapists and experienced trainers will lead participants through specialized training in Dramatherapy, Art Therapy, and Music Therapy, each conducted over two-week periods totaling four weeks. The program includes seminars, interactive workshops, and hands-on practice with peer supervision. Participants will have the opportunity to choose their specialization in either Art Therapy or Music Therapy based on their experience and interests. Additionally, all participants will receive training in Dramatherapy as part of the comprehensive curriculum.
3. Proposal Development Training:
This phase focuses on developing proposals for seed funding initiatives. Trainees will be guided to start their own pilot phase projects, focusing on using one or two of the creative therapy intervention techniques for outreach programs within their communities when going back to the field.
4. Practice-Based Week Emphasis on Peer Supervision:
In the final phase, trainees will facilitate sessions among their groups, sharing and practicing the creative therapy intervention skills and techniques they have learned.
Seed Funding
The seed funding program offers financial support to participants of the AoC to develop and implement their own initiatives. These projects should aim to disseminate the knowledge and skills gained during the training through workshops and awareness sessions within their communities. By doing so, the program seeks to create a ripple effect, spreading the benefits of mental health support closely linked to art, music, and drama therapy intervention techniques to a broader audience and diverse communities.
What does the scholarship include?
The Academy of Care offers full scholarships to support some of the participants. A scholarship includes:
- Transportation allowance
- Accommodation and travel costs (for those coming from outside Yangon)
- Per diem (daily allowance for living costs such as meals for those coming from outside Yangon)
- Please note that actively employed individuals receiving a salary are typically not eligible, those on paid and unpaid leave must have employer approval and provide a letter of support. If the employer gives the applicant unpaid leave they are eligible for a partial scholarship. If the applicant has no employment and experiences financial hardship, can apply for a scholarship.
Application criteria
- We encourage applications from individuals with a minimum of two years' experience within the field of mental health, psychology, psychiatry, counseling, psychosocial support, and a demonstrated knowledge of that experience either by educationally, professionally and practically. This experience should encompass volunteer work, community engagement, educational pursuits, and practical experience, particularly within mental health and psychosocial support contexts.
- It is appreciated to have a background or experience within the creative field: art, theater dance or performance and or music background, please note to be admitted to the music therapy intervention facilitation workshop, background in music is required.
- We specifically seek applicants who are working in the field with communities in vulnerable contexts, including conflict areas, and supporting diverse groups. This includes individuals involved in social awareness, community work, or voluntary work, as well as those who have studied or are working professionally in these areas.
- Additionally, we welcome applications from "lived-experience experts" who have personally navigated mental health challenges or trauma and emerged with valuable insights, strength, and a passion for sharing their experiences as trainers.
Are you interested? Please complete the provided application form to submit your application HERE!!!
Your application must include the following:
- Motivational statement: 500-800 words; English or Myanmar.
- Curriculum vitae: Your educational and professional background, etc.
- Relevant certificates or portfolio: Relevant documents demonstrating previous work projects in the field, relevant lived experience, or practice-based examples.
- References: Please include one recommendation letter and/or provide contact details for one to two reference contacts who can vouch for your experience.
- If you are employed, please provide a letter from your employer confirming that you will be granted leave for the full duration of the program. You are required to be fully committed for two months with no other obligations. If your employer has any questions, they should contact us before you apply to the Academy of Care.
Our open call promotes inclusivity and stands against all forms of discrimination. We encourage individuals to apply who are located outside Yangon, particularly the individuals from the areas with limited access to resources and capacity strengthening.
We are seeking applicants who are committed to the program, eager to acquire new skills and knowledge, and willing to share their expertise in their professional settings. Ideal candidates should be keen to have a positive impact on their working environments, be involved in civil society, and have a profound understanding of diverse sociocultural needs. They should be strongly motivated to provide support individually and collaboratively and see themselves as integrated members of society.The program is specifically directed toward individuals who want to return to their field and contribute to supporting people in need in Myanmar.
Please note
The Academy of Care is not intended for those seeking personal mental health care but rather for those who desire to learn how to effectively support individuals and communities experiencing trauma, mental health challenges, and psychosocial difficulties.
Knowledge in English is a plus but not a requirement. Interpretation will be on site during the training to support.
Timeline
- Deadline for Applications: Sunday, 11 August 2024The jury meets for selection process: 12-14 August 2024
- Notifications to those shortlisted: 15 August 2024
- First Interviews: 20- 23 August 2024
- Second Interview: 26, 27 August 2024 (Group Interview setting)
- Results Announcement: 02 September 2024
To help you prepare for application, we offer online orientation sessions in Myanmar language. The sessions explain the objective of AoC in more depth and respond to all your questions about the program.
- Thursday, 25th July 2024, 16:00 – 17:00 – register by Tuesday, 23rd July.
- Thursday, 1st August 2024, 16:00 – 17:00 – register by Tuesday, 30th July.
- Thursday, 8th August 2024, 16:00 – 17:00 – register by Tuesday, 6th August.
The Academy of Care is funded by the Goethe-Institut Myanmar and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
