[TimorLesteStudies] Journal article: Evaluating The Scared Cool project: Understanding peacemaking through creativity and personal development in Timor-Leste

[Kim Dunphy]

Dear BU

Email for TImor Studies Association list please.

Evaluating The Scared Cool project:
Understanding peacemaking through creativity and personal development in Timor-Leste

KIM DUNPHY
PhD candidate, School of International and Community Development
DEAKIN UNIVERSITY, Victoria, Australia
kim.dunphy at manyhands.org.au


KEYWORDS
Participatory arts; devised theatre; Timor-Leste; evaluation; social change.

ABSTRACT
This article presents an evaluation of Scared Cool, a physical theatre project for young people in Dili, Timor-
Leste. The project was hosted by non-government organisation Ba Futuru as part of their ongoing efforts to
promote peace and conflict resolution in that new nation. Qualitative interviews and focus groups were
undertaken with a range of stakeholders: participants; staff; the host organisation; audience members and the
wider community, to determine their perceptions about project outcomes. The article also describes the ‘theories
of change’ that leaders used to guide their work, and issues arising from the data.

The Scared Cool initiative appears to provide significant cultural and social benefits for the young participants.
These include development of capacity for artistic expression, creative and analytic thinking, confidence and
English language skills. There were also benefits to other stakeholders including audience members. These
included the enjoyment of attending a live performance, and the potential for trauma resolution and positive
relationship building. This study confirms the potential for participatory arts projects to assist with the positive
development of young people in highly disadvantaged communities. In so doing, such projects can contribute to
positive social change by assisting the resolution of trauma and violence.

e-journal of UNESCO Observatory Multi-Disciplinary Research in the Arts, 2, 2. 
www.abp.unimelb.edu.au/unesco/ejournal/vol-two-issue-two.html



Kim Dunphy
Director
Many Hands International
kim.dunphy at manyhands.org.au
Ph: +61 3 9598 0635  
www.manyhands.org.au
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.anu.edu.au/pipermail/easttimorstudies/attachments/20120127/6a2948d1/attachment-0001.html