BREADS, in collaboration with its Don Bosco partners, successfully organised a series of creative expression workshops across six districts of Karnataka. Conducted under the Mental Health Initiative for Nurturing Development and Support project, the initiative brought together 300 educators, mental health professionals and local government departments to promote emotional well-being for more than 3000 school students, using the medium of creativity.
In each district Chitradurga, Hosapete, Yadgiri, Bidar, Bangalore and five workshops were organised, with 40 children participating in each, enabling 200 students to experience structured and engaging sessions. In addition, 50 teachers in every district received specialised training to integrate creative approaches into their classrooms, ensuring that the benefits of the programme continued beyond the workshops. The sessions were carried out in collaboration with the Education, District Mental Health Programmes (DMHP), Health departments and mental health professionals from partner institutions such as the YIMS Institute of Psychiatric Sciences and the APD Institute.
The workshops engaged children in creative activities such as mandala art, paper craft, flower making, handwriting practice and brochure design. These activities enhanced creativity, concentration, fine motor skills, environmental awareness, teamwork and emotional regulation, while also providing a safe and non-judgmental space for self-expression. Teachers learned how to apply these techniques in everyday classroom activities, strengthening the link between academic learning and emotional health.
By combining creativity with psychosocial support, the programme addressed the growing need for innovative interventions in education. Through these workshops, BREADS reaffirmed its commitment to holistic child development, ensuring that education nurtures both the brain and the psyche and empowering young learners to grow with confidence, resilience and purpose.
