Tackling climate anxiety through art: CANVAS and Manawari SEA hold journaling workshop for climate advocates
CANVAS, Manawari SEA, and climate advocates pose for a group photo in Read, Imagine, Create space.
Manila, Philippines — The Center for Art, New Ventures and Sustainable Development (CANVAS) and Manawari SEA held Seedlings of the Earth Collective: A mindful journaling workshop for youth climate advocates last October 25 in Twenty Years of Art and Stories, CANVAS’ anniversary exhibit in the National Museum of Fine Arts.
Facilitator Maria Nilad reads a poem by Adrienne Rich
The workshop was facilitated by Maria Nilad, a writer and counselor with a background in environmental studies.
Young climate advocates were welcomed in the exhibit where they read poems about the environment. They explored further reflection as Maria presented journaling prompts on climate anxiety, which they discussed with fellow attendees.
After sharing in groups, participants wrote one line each to create a collaborative poem expressing their sentiments about the environment. Watch and read the poem below:
“I listened to everyone share their experience with climate anxiety and grief for environmental loss. I felt an incredible gratitude for the gathering. As Adrienne Rich wrote, we have to work with each other despite having “no extraordinary power.” Together, we “reconstitute the world,” said Maria.
The program concluded with a tour of the exhibit.
CANVAS intern Ash tours participants around Twenty Years of Art and Stories
This event is possible through the partnership with Manawari SEA and Aksyon Klima Pilipinas.
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Manawari SEA is a non-profit organization that engages Southeast Asian youth through communities of practice and care to develop and highlight their voices, capacities, and expertise in responding to the triple planetary crises of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss, and achieving a healthy and meaningful life.
A non-profit that works with the creative community to promote literacy and explore national identity, CANVAS publishes award-winning children's stories and donates the books to benefit children in public schools and poor communities throughout the Philippines. Its One Million Books Campaign promotes independent reading and creative thinking in Filipino children, while also exposing them to the best of contemporary Filipino art and literature. Twenty Years of Art and Stories details the organization’s work, from art exhibitions, book publishing and distribution, to partnerships CANVAS has had in the past two decades.
