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Developing a Healing Arts Pedagogy and Practices (HAPPy) Training: An Arts-Based Curriculum for Trauma Stabilisation and Stress Alleviation in the South African Educational System
(Arts Research Africa, 2022-09-16) De Beer, Welma; Draper-Clarke, Lucy
This paper discusses the theoretical foundations and pedagogical principles underlying the “Mas’phefumle” project, which explores healing arts practices and pedagogy as a response to trauma in South Africa. The authors propose that artistic research has transformed and advanced arts-based pedagogies in the country, offering impactful healing practices that can help communities during challenging times and regulate individuals after traumatic incidents. The curriculum developed, called Healing Arts Pedagogy and Practices (HAPPy), aims to establish culturally sensitive activities that promote resilience and create safe learning environments. The foundations of the curriculum are based on healing, the arts, pedagogies, and practices, integrating elements of polyvagal theory, psychotraumatology, and the African philosophy of Ubuntu. The paper describes the action research method used and presents the initial cycle of the curriculum’s development.