Shaah & Sheeko : Embracing Identity in the Multisensory Space for Adolescent Girls
Osman Mohamed, Fathi; Dahir, Hafsa (2018)
Osman Mohamed, Fathi
Dahir, Hafsa
Laurea-ammattikorkeakoulu
2018
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2018121421635
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2018121421635
Tiivistelmä
The purpose of this thesis is emphasising the act of embracing identity of the multi- and bi-cultural adolescents in a Multisensory environment. Another aim for this thesis is for the adolescents to communicate constructively. These objectives conclude towards the aim of improving self-reflection skills of the participants. The thesis is in partnership with ELO-project (“Building skills and Communities Together”). Multisensory Space is located in Laurea University of Applied Sciences Tikkurila Campus, in Vantaa.
We observed the level of self-reflection skills of the participants as well as communication skills, and their self-expression skills. This was achieved through assembling a group for adolescent girls with immigrant background. We held 6 sessions with different themes: Introduction to the project and the Multisensory Space, Art Activities, Building the Multisensory Space, Constructive Communication, Tradition, Love and Relationships, and lastly Past, Present and Future. Each theme was based on the theoretical framework, of which the most important ones include: art therapy, Nonviolent Communication, Life Span Narrative.
Our group started to resonate with the concept of Multisensory Space once they understood its function, even though in the beginning they were hesitant and had hard time comprehending how this space could work. One of our most favoured sessions was the Art Activity, which worked as a great tool for using creativity in expressing identity. The participants were able to express themselves and through that, caused interaction that ended up encouraging inclusion within the group. One of the observations we had made, was how easily the girls were able to create a space that resonated with their personal identity, by forming the Multisensory Space into Finnish and Somali.
We used our observations and the received verbal and written feedback to conclude, that bi-cultural adolescents do not have enough safe and comfortable environments, where they can express themselves, and reflect on their identity. The participants were also able to use their artistic creativity to explore their opinions towards Finland and Somalia. They also explored their emotional connection towards their Somali identity and contemplated how it corresponds with their Finnish identity.
We observed the level of self-reflection skills of the participants as well as communication skills, and their self-expression skills. This was achieved through assembling a group for adolescent girls with immigrant background. We held 6 sessions with different themes: Introduction to the project and the Multisensory Space, Art Activities, Building the Multisensory Space, Constructive Communication, Tradition, Love and Relationships, and lastly Past, Present and Future. Each theme was based on the theoretical framework, of which the most important ones include: art therapy, Nonviolent Communication, Life Span Narrative.
Our group started to resonate with the concept of Multisensory Space once they understood its function, even though in the beginning they were hesitant and had hard time comprehending how this space could work. One of our most favoured sessions was the Art Activity, which worked as a great tool for using creativity in expressing identity. The participants were able to express themselves and through that, caused interaction that ended up encouraging inclusion within the group. One of the observations we had made, was how easily the girls were able to create a space that resonated with their personal identity, by forming the Multisensory Space into Finnish and Somali.
We used our observations and the received verbal and written feedback to conclude, that bi-cultural adolescents do not have enough safe and comfortable environments, where they can express themselves, and reflect on their identity. The participants were also able to use their artistic creativity to explore their opinions towards Finland and Somalia. They also explored their emotional connection towards their Somali identity and contemplated how it corresponds with their Finnish identity.