Charity Art Therapy Session for Children - Alina Jaber Yoga in London

Cultural Yoga Retreat in The Gambia

– with Alina Jaber –

During my Cultural Yoga Retreat in The Gambia, held from February 21st to 28th, 2025, I had the privilege of connecting with a truly special person, Jeanne T. Leroy.

Jeanne, a professional and qualified art therapist from Malaga, Spain, joined us as a guest and brought an unexpected yet beautiful addition to our retreat experience.

One of the highlights of our retreat is the 4×4 drive excursion to a local school, where we engage in charity work. Typically, we bring juices, sweets, and stationery to share with the children. However, when Jeanne learned about this tradition, she offered to take it a step further by offering an art therapy class to the children and I couldn’t have been more excited to agree!

Jeanne had come fully prepared, bringing with her a collection of art materials generously donated by fellow artists from Spain. Paints, crayons, pencils, and other tools to fuel creativity filled her bag, ready to be shared with the children.

The art therapy session focused on something incredibly meaningful, and Jeanne guided the children to paint their happy place and express what it meant to them. Watching the kids immerse themselves in this activity was truly heartwarming. The joy on their faces was contagious as they created their artwork, each piece a unique reflection of their thoughts and feelings.

The session concluded with a raffle, where one lucky child won a set of watercolour paint palettes to take home. The smile on their face said it all and it was a moment of joy and pride, and I was so grateful to witness it.

This experience not only deepened the charity work we do but also brought a new and valuable dimension to our retreat. I am incredibly thankful that Jeanne’s expertise in art therapy added such a meaningful experience for both the children and us as participants. The gratitude we saw in the children’s eyes reminded us all of the power of giving back, and it was a beautiful reminder of why we do this work.

If you would like to learn more about Jeanne and her art therapy sessions, you can visit her website here: Jeanne T. Leroy Art Therapy

It’s moments like these that remind me why I am so grateful for the connections we make during these retreats. The smiles, the joy, and the simple act of giving back to others is what makes everything worth it.