Here is the interview with the team of Art and Health Collectives, a group supporting Ethiopian and Eritrean seniors during the COVID pandemic
1. Ethiofidel: Tell me a little bit about your group ?
Art + Health: Art + Health is a mental health collective that promotes mental health awareness to culturally specific communities in Toronto. Starting with the Habesha community, our signature workshop series, Kitchen Table Talk – started by Aden Abebe and Mahedar Mellkamu – brings together youth and elders in intergenerational conversations around complex subjects regarding mental health and wellness over a warm cooked meal. Our goal is to inspire dialogue around a subject that has historically been silenced in the Habesha community. Through partnerships with community health organizations, medical practitioners, and cultural associations, we are working collaboratively with communities in an effort to inform the conversation and dispel myths, all facilitated by Habeshas experts.
2. Ethiofidel ; What are you doing in terms of assisting the communities during COVID-19 pandemic?
Art + Health :During this time, we’ve created the “Beite-Seb” a food security program that provides a weekly delivery of fresh fruits, vegetables, shuro, teff and injera to members of the Habesha community who have been negatively impacted by COVID-19. We are prioritizing support to seniors (ages 55+) living in isolation as well as non-seniors in desperate need; these include newcomers, single parents, seasonal workers, and more. Most importantly, it is our policy at Art + Health that any and all personal information shared with us remains confidential.
3. Ethiofidel:How can the community access your services?
Art + Health: They can Visit us at https://arthealth.ca/
4. Ethiofidel:Any other projects you are working on?
Art + Health : We’ve created weekly videos on our social media entitled “surviving COVID_19” with topics that have been requested from our community. Topics to date include: Diet and Nutrition, Addiction and Harm Reduction, Movement and exercise, with more to come. https://arthealth.ca/programs/#surviving-covid
A monthly work-shop entitled “Mahabre” a family style check-in and conversations as we share the best and difficult of what is happening in our world. https://arthealth.ca/programs/#mahabre
Since the launch of the Beite-Seb program, we have recognized the overwhelming need in our community and therefore are working on trying to extend the program. https://arthealth.ca/programs/#Beite-Seb Food Support
5. Ethiofidel ; Any message to the community around COVID-19?
Art + Health :Please be mindful of Covid-19’s continued presence in our community and remember to stay home if feeling ill, continue to wash your hands/use hand sanitizer, wear masks and practice social distancing.
Stay strong and don’t be afraid to ask for help!
Stay Safe,
Art+Health Team
