Hood Projects

Discover how our Hood Projects intend to turn everyday communities into safe, creative spaces for healing, connection and collective growth.

A group of people sitting down together in discussion

Creative Conversations Rooted in Identity, Belonging & Healing

At Afrikala Art, we believe that healing and transformation start at home, in the very hoods we live in. These are not just geographical spaces, they are deeply emotional and cultural zones that carry our earliest memories, shape our values and even define our sense of belonging. Our “hoods”, whether it’s our childhood street, our schoolyard, our current neighbourhood or our sisterhood of women, become the mirrors through which we see ourselves and the world around us.

The Hood Projects are Afrikala Art’s flagship grassroots mental health and wellness initiative designed to create healing, inclusive and empowering spaces right within our communities. Rooted in the everyday lives of children, youth and adults, this program transforms informal gatherings into structured creative conversations, using art, games, storytelling, sports, music and peer mentorship to spark dialogue, healing and collective growth.

We co-create and co-design these creative community experiences around five key “hoods” each offering a safe, reflective and supportive space tailored to specific age and gender needs:

Neighbourhood

A collective space open to people of all ages to reflect on safety, identity, community leadership, collective trauma, belonging and co-created community action. It allows individuals from different generations and social groups to share stories, address shared struggles and generate practical ideas to improve their communities and environments. This is where neighbourhood-wide dialogues on mental health, economic development, gender, violence, climate resilience and youth engagement are born.

Childhood

Safe, creative and playful spaces where children explore their emotions and learn about mental health, trust, safety and self-awareness. Sessions use art, dance, games and simple therapeutic techniques to encourage emotional expression and build confidence. Guided by trained facilitators and child psychologists (or trained adult “hood” members), these sessions also help us understand the evolving needs of children across communities and ensure that they are well communicated to members of the Neighbourhood and other Hood Chapters for support and action.

Teenhood

Targeted spaces for adolescents to reflect on identity, relationships, peer pressure, academic stress, drugs, reproductive health and economic uncertainty. Designed with flexibility and trust, teens are allowed to voice their concerns and shape the agenda. Trusted adults or mentors act as sounding boards and referral points, helping build a culture of responsibility, safety and positive youth development. This hood promotes youth leadership, mental resilience and informed decision-making.

Sisterhood

Safe spaces designed for girls and women to talk about self-esteem, relationships, gender-based violence, safety, hygiene, identity, reproductive health and their roles as caregivers, creators and leaders. Through storytelling, collective art-making, peer support and guided dialogue, this hood provides a soft landing for those who need to be seen, heard and held with sisterly solidarity. It’s also a space for exploring curiosity, breaking taboos and co-creating feminist care practices.

Brotherhood

Safe spaces for boys and men to explore masculinity, mental health, vulnerability, responsibility, sexual health, work, societal expectations and emotional well-being. Through group-led activities, mentorship circles, music, storytelling and games, men are encouraged to support each other, challenge harmful stereotypes and engage in community restoration efforts. The aim is to foster empathy, positive masculinity and emotional awareness, starting from the hood.

Each hood encourages peer-led support, intergenerational mentorship, creative exploration and reflection, designed to bring community members together to address personal and collective challenges. Whether it’s painting a memory of home, writing letters to one’s younger self or discussing everyday issues such as parenting, violence, poverty or depression, each hood provides tools for healing and community-driven change.

These aren’t just conversations, they are community-rooted therapy, peer healing, creative leadership training and local activism. The Hood Projects foster emotional resilience, civic participation and safer, more inclusive neighbourhoods.

Looking Ahead: Hoods That Heal, Thrive and Lead

Afrikala Art envisions these spaces growing into dynamic community ecosystems where neighbourhoods collaborate across “hoods” through shared spaces, local festivals, inter-hood sports competitions, design challenges and civic actions to build safe, resilient, creative communities.

You can join the movement:

Start or register a Hood Chapter
Download toolkits to facilitate a Hood conversation
Collaborate with us to implement The Hood Projects in your area

Together, let’s build safer, more connected and more healing communities - one hood at a time.