Painting a Shared Future: How Can Art-Thinking Foster Social Change?

Imagine that in your village, one day, a bomb falls and kills 12 children of people you know. Or seeing rockets passing by in the sky on top of your house. Every sound in the sky has become alarming, and scary.

Maybe you come from a conflict area - like Palestine. Or maybe you have crossed the sea by boat to build a better future for yourself and your family back home.

Last week I met many courageous people and together we dreamt about future visions and painted these into a wall.

“We had the opportunity to express ourselves.” - Noor, 28 from Palestine.

“I feel grateful because even if our situation is complicated, I can still be with my family.” - Jude, 24 from Palestine.

A group of 13 Palestinians came to Abruzzo - Italy - where I live, to meet 24 underage immigrants from the SAI, a reception center. Together, we collaborated to paint a shared vision of the future.

As a facilitator, design thinker and artist, I guided the group in a journey of reflection, sharing and empowerment where we talked about courage, future, dreams and emotions and we shared our stories and hopes. We first imagined better futures and then we transformed these into a mural.

"We always speak from a place of peace and hope to bring world peace wherever we go." — Yazan Badarny founder of Home Awe, a platform that organizes cultural exchange programs worldwide, ensuring that Palestinian voices are heard, that partnered to make this project real.

Even dreaming can be a privilege, not everyone has the opportunity to dream for a better future, or the courage to walk towards it.

But the first step in every process of transformation is to visualize the change we want to see in this world.

Here's what we achieved together:

• A cultural exchange experience between Palestinian visitors and youth from local reception centers, fostering dialogue and integration through art.
• Strengthened sense of community and belonging for local youth.
• Beautification of the city of Montesilvano with public art.
• Boosted tourism in the Abruzzo region through art-focused volunteer experiences.
• Raised awareness about Palestinian culture and issues.
• Heightened consciousness around migrant struggles and stories.

I am passionate about designing and facilitating collaborative art experiences that bridge cultures and create positive impact. Through these projects, we don't just paint walls—we shape visions of change.

If you're looking to sponsor innovative socially impactful initiatives that bridge cultures and inspire transformation, let's collaborate to create meaningful art that builds bridges and shapes brighter futures!