THE
SHIELD
INITIATIVE
Projects
As youht-led initiative, SHIELD works with youths and activists around the world to foster easier conversations on mental wellness through art-making. We want to lead our peers to use art as a way to care, connect, and to heal. Read on to follow SHIELD's activism footprint >>
JAN. 2023 Learning Planet Festival
We proudly launched The SHIELD Initiative with Learning Planet Festival 2023. (Virtual, Paris)
FEB. 2023 Valentine's Self-Love Workshop
In Miss Porter's School, SHIELD collaborated with Art Feeds to hold a flower-making workshop with our youth. We incorporated positive self-talk to created Valentine's gifts for ourselves.
APR. 2023 Shield X Shanghai Cambridge School
In April, Shield held a small-scale appreciation workshop with Junior students in Shanghai Cambridge Foreign Language High School in Shanghai, China. The students explored with using art and handicraft cards to express gratitude for themselves and others.
APR. 2023 UN ECOSOC Youth Forum 2023
From April 24th to 26th, Jiale Zhu joined the UN ECOSOC Youth Forum 2023 in the UN Headquarters, New York, as a Youth Delegate representing The SHIELD Initiative. Through the 3-day conference, SHIELD engaged in conversations on accelerating post-covid recovery with youth and for youth. SHIELD co-hosted "Pizza and Perspectives Reception", discussing equality in activism with 50+ participants from 15+ countries.d
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MAY. 2023 Self-Service and Plein Air Workshop
In Miss Porter's School, Shield cooperated with the Counseling Office to curate an art therapy workshop during the school's Community day on volunteer and service. The workshop focuses on the idea of serving oneself and acknowledge one's emotion before serving for others.
JUN. 2023 Guest Speaker: Eugene Gato Nsengamungu
The Shield Initiative invited Eugene Gato Nsengamungu, founder of Rwanda Youth Tech Informants (RYTI) project to share his experience on using technology to bridge inequalities especially during the time of pandemic. Eugene and Jiale also shared their view on mental health among youth in Rwanda and in the U.S., and how they took various approaches to improve this situation.
JUL. 2023 Chinese Feminism and Rings Workshop
In Shanghai, Shield organized an offline art workshop on Chinese Nontangible Heritage "Nvshu", a language used in Yongjiang, Hunan District in Shanghai that is used and passed down only to woman. We engaged in conversations on feminism struggles and self-exploration through the process of ring-making.
AUG. 2023 Art Exhibiton: A Weaving Mess
An art exhibition navigating story telling through data. "A Weaving Mess" utilizes yarn to narrate individual stories on mental health during the pandemic. We want to highlight the mental health impact our society has during COVID-19, as well as collecting data in continuation on the topic of data visibility. The exhibition was offline in Shanghai and is available online in English.
AUG.2023 Playback Theatre Workshop
In late August, we are invited by NGO Dayu to co-organize a workshop on Playback Theatre, using the theatre medium of art therapy to explore and raise awareness on mental health problems among disabled people in China.
SEP. 2023 UN SDG Action Weekend
On September 16th and 17th, Jiale Zhu joined the UN SDG Action Weekend 2023 in the UN Headquarters, New York, as a Youth Delegate representing The SHIELD Initiative. Shield engaged in conversations on using data to shape changes through SDGs. We co-organized a side event with Learning Planet Institute on the topic of reinventing education for youths and global citizens
SEP. 2023 ICSD: Global Schools Program X Shield
Jiale Zhu, founder of The Shield Initiative, was invited by Global Schools Program to speak at ICSD (11th Annual International Conference on Sustainable Development). Jiale shared about her data analysis research on mental health and youths, as well as how Shield has been using art therapy to shape postivie impact on the topic.
OCT. 2023 World Mental Health Day: Workshop
To celebrate World Mental Health Day (10/10), Shield led a rock painting therapy workshop in Miss Porter's School. "The overall objective of World Mental Health Day is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health. The Day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide." (WHO)
NOV. 2023 Shield X Mesothelioma Hope
Through a few months of effort, Shield was able to collaborate with organization Mesothelioma Hope to advocate for patient wellness on both the physical and psychological ends. Mesothelioma Hope is a cancer advocacy organization who aims to assist those in need and take away some of the stress of a cancer diagnosis at no cost. By imrpoving access to patience care resources on our own website, we hope to spread awareness on patience wellness through this collaboration.
DEC. 2023 Shield X UNESCO IESALC
JAN. 2024 Shield X Plan USA
As a YLA member, Jiale has been working with Plan USA to publish a blog as a part of Plan's "In Her Own Words" series. The blog series captures narratives of female activists of their advocation journey. The blog, "Bridging Gender Gaps in Mental Health through Art", documents Shield Initiative's past efforts in fostering multidisciplinary actions in mental health awareness.
FEB. 2024 USAID PCYDH Symposium
On February 6th, Shield Initiative had the honor to be invited to share its activism story for youth mental wellness during Plan USA's panel on 2024 Protecting Children and Youth from Digital Harm Symposium. As the founder of Shield Initiative, Jiale shared an art and activism data visualization work during the panel to call on attention to mental awareness during youths' internet usage.
ONGOING Shield X Kang Chiao International School
Since late March 2023, Shield has been working closely with Kelly Wu to create a flower mural project in Kang Chiao Internation School in Taipei.
ONGOING Mindfull X Shield Blog Series
Mindfull and The Shield Initiative are collaborating. Blogs will be uploaded weekly, starting with general information and gradually looking into specifics and even personal mental health histories from Isara from Northstar Academy in Japan and Coco from Miss Porter's School in the U.S.
Contact
We look forward to your contribution. Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions or ideas!
860-839-0054