Calling all artistic souls who are seeking a humanitarian medium! Meet this week’s featured Partner, the Healing House in Cusco, Peru. Healing House offers free classes, group therapies, and workshop spaces to help locals in Cusco reach self-fulfillment by accessing their creative potential.
Let’s dig a little deeper. Self-fulfillment is the final stop in Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Need: (see full color diagram at the bottom)
Survival-->Safety-->Love-->Esteem-->Creativity/Self-fulfillment
Abraham Maslow was an American psychologist and professor who held the positive attributes of his patients as more important than their "bag of symptoms."
Maslow’s pyramid shows the progression for creating self worth and good quality of life. Self-fulfillment is the pinnacle of the pyramid and is a vital piece of basic human survival that is often overlooked because of the more urgent needs of basic biological necessities (like food, water, and shelter). The truth is, self-fulfilled people are happier people, and happier people are less likely to turn to violence or drugs or trafficking for release.
How does Healing House facilitate self-fulfillment? By giving local Peruvians the ability to express themselves creatively.
“For locals and foreigners alike, we help people support themselves through their creativity. We’ve helped artists to showcase and sell their photos and jewelry, and authors and chefs to host workshops. We have helped blossoming yoga teachers who want a chance to start teaching, and musicians who need the space and guidance to create. We believe that as each of us pursues our creative dreams, we not only bring beauty into the world and liberate energy that needs to be expressed for our own wellbeing—we also put into practice our capacity to create fulfilling lives for ourselves.” -Healing House
Healing House is dynamic and multifaceted; their programs vary based on participant ages, needs, and language abilities (they’ll translate their lesson plans for you!), and are open to everyone--locals and travelers alike. This is an exciting group to be a part of, and you can get involved today! Provide access to the fulfilling powers of creativity by volunteering with any of Helping House’s open instructor positions. From Yoga to Art, Meditation to Music, there is definitely a place for you in the Healing House... and maybe you can learn a little Quechuan along the way.
Having trouble finding the funds to volunteer in another country? You can always apply for a Volunteer Grant from Omprakash to help offset the cost of your travel. Maybe the self-fulfillment that you’re seeking lies in the open arms of Healing House.
