The sketching workshop at Malzirkus Ahrweiler was all about perceiving the environment in a new way. Our art therapist Steffi Raths went with the participating children
I went to the Ahr with a sketchpad, pencils and a cushion under my arm to learn how to sketch.
"What is a sketch?" "What is a sketchpad or sketchbook for?"
Many questions were asked and answered.
Steffi explains: "We chose the houses on the other side of the Ahr as our motif. We can see them completely. Speaking of seeing: you have to practise that! How many windows can I see? Can I see a chimney? A door? What is that line? And what is that scribble? The first house was painted with concentration and questions such as: What colour are the windows? were answered. A closer look makes it possible.
A particular challenge for the children was to be mindful of their surroundings. The children chose a motif where they had to perceive a house across the Ahr. Their senses were sharpened during the two units. The realisation that every tree is different, that a beam is a gutter, the observation that a bird is a duck, that flowers are tulips and crocuses (yellow and purple dots) led the children to a highly concentrated and intensive perception of their surroundings. Particularly fascinating is the realisation that you can make notes in a sketchpad, in a sketch that you can use later to further illustrate the details. A sketchpad is like a diary and can help the children to process the day. Some of them may take this to heart and think about giving it a try! This mindful drawing over the Ahr meant that there was no thought of the past, instead the children were happily in the here and now.
On the return of the sketch club, the team from the Ahrweiler Begegnungscafé realised how relaxed and cheerful the children were. It was great. Even the rainy weather couldn't change that!“
Many thanks, dear Steffi and the whole Malzirkus team! 
Many thanks also to Children's aid organisation Global-Care Foundation, The Paritätische Wohlfahrtsverband - General Association, Aktion Deutschland Hilft and all private donors for their support. 
Yours Klaudia Skodnik and the Fortuna helps team
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