Nadia Lubowski's art-based approach to healing Trauma in Philippi's children

Nadia Lubowski, the director of the Anton Lubowski Educational Trust (ALET), faced the trauma of her father being assassinated in front of their home in Namibia when she was just nine years old. Having to deal with this trauma, she has adopted a leading art-based, trauma-informed approach to early childhood education in Philippi on the Cape Flats, where she teaches pre-school children. In an interview with Biznews, Lubowski highlighted the stark disparities in educational experiences between children in affluent suburbs and those in townships like Philippi, an area marked by violence. She recounts the harrowing story of a child in her programme who witnessed a classmate being shot. It is children like this that Lubowski wants to help, using art therapy to express their emotions and cope with trauma. Having identified a suitable piece of land, she is currently planning an art centre that would provide a safe space for parents, mothers, and young children to gather. ALET is in the process of raising R27 million for the project, and Lubowski emphasises that while forming a partnership with a corporate entity would be beneficial, it is essential that the initiative remains rooted in collaboration with the community to truly make a difference in the lives of Philippi’s children.