Abracadabra - A magical transformation!

Ever since we were kids they taught us that our school is our second home, where we should find peace, where we have to enlighten our minds and discover new dimensions in life and in our souls, school seems to be such a magical happy place! Yet, this was not the case at Raml El Zarif School, the magical place was more of very dull and sad one, it was not a healthy environment to the kids, it was more of a devastating place, where neither kid nor adult should attend, on a regular basis.

When I Leaf Art saw the school’s condition, the team decided that they should leaf it up as soon as they can, they believed in their ability to transform this sad surrounding into a dreamy magical one. So, the brainstorming began, they started scheduling weekly meetings, artists, logistics, illustrators, alongside with the lovely American University of Beirut (AUB) volunteers, all the team got their efforts all together and focused on one important thing which was these kids’ surrounding. 

After many meetings, they decided which four illustrations fit mostly, so they set a date for the intervention, brought the materials needed and drove towards the school.

Once the team arrived, they couldn't hide their shock, the classrooms were ruined, it was sad. The kids were frustrated. However, they were so excited seeing the team’s colorful materials and smiles, they couldn't stop passing by the team, taking a peek on what was happening, noticing the way their classrooms dramatically being changed. It was heartwarming and definitely worth the hard work. 

After hours and hours of the hard work and the devotion, the team was finalizing their art work, and just when the last drop of paint was placed on the last part of the last illustration the bell rang and the students left their classes in order to go home, seeing by their own way the magical work that was done, the team saw it in the kids eyes how grateful and happy they were, how thankful they were. 

Their eyes were lightened up in a way that touched each and every heart in the team, moments like this are what make the team work harder, it’s what make us as I Leaf Art be more devoted.

Photo Credits : Moussa Habanbo & Ziad Zoubian 

Written by Mariam Mosleh

Leafer since Summer 2013

And on Monday, Children discovered their new transformed classrooms!

Colors for the Eyes & Music for the Heart

Pairs of Leafy hands walk into Hariri hospital, into the onco-pediatric unit on Adha’s eve. Two of them respectively carry a guitar, another carries a basket full of muffins carefully baked and wrapped. The other hands carry crafts and colors.

I Leaf Art team walks between colorful walls they had painted previously. 

Once the instruments are tuned and the smiles are on, strings are strummed and music takes over a place where silence reigns.

Hatem is four. He greets us with a shy smile on a pale face. 

Notes start flowing as his smile widens. He chooses to color a butterfly and names her Amar. His happiness reaches its peak when the clown enters. The boy asks for faster music and dances as much as he can with a tube connected to his arm, but his feet can only hold him for a bit so we leave him to rest.

Houssein is five. He enjoys slower music and fewer people. 

He chooses to color a horse and divides this task between all his leafy friends. He insists on the fact that the horse is a female and gives her the name of Amira. 
There’s a smart look in his tired eyes and the way he talks, but soon his focus weakens and Leafers had to leave him with enough colors to draw more rainbows in his dreams.

On the way out, I Leaf Art team passes by the nursery department and spreads music for the heart and colors for the eyes not only to entertain, but to rebuild the fragile hope of beaten parents.

Written by Sama Beydoun

Leafer since Summer 2014