I HAVE A VOICE | 4.14.21 - 5.2.21

treat gallery new york is excited to partner with nonprofit organization Cartwheel Initiative and host part of their “I HAVE A VOICE” festival. Through this project and beyond, Cartwheel Initiative empowers disadvantaged youth through the art of visual storytelling.

Cartwheel Initiative's goal is to build a supportive, collaborative community focused around art for marginalized youth. As these students find their voice through art and creative thinking, they hope to help the communities around them connect with them through their stories. Through Cartwheel Initiative, these students will explore the meanings of identity, home, and community. We’re pleased to partner with an organization that hears and values the voice of tomorrow, and we hope you enjoy and reflect on the work shared below.

Please consider a donation here and learn more about their mission here.

Pinky K. Age 15, Mumbai, India

I have made a “Multi Message Greeting Card” which is giving different message about the life and these messages are very close to me since they are guiding and motivating me a lot to think about my life and to achieve something greater. Secondly, I also like to do something for others by gifting them and making them happy, so I prefer to give greeting cards as a gift to other since it gives me a self-satisfaction and lots of happiness to enjoy the movement of making or doing something for others. The dancing girl on the front page of the Greeting Card is representing myself I like to dance very much, wherever I get chance to dance I never miss it. I am looking myself as a successful dancer in future, I have to make my career in the dancing. It is very difficult to any one especially the girls from the red-light area to think out of the box and see the dreams to become a someone who is well educated, qualified and very successful in their life. Thus, thinking about the become a dancer it is a day dream for me but at same time I know that I can do that thus at last page of the greeting I have putted a growing and blooming flower.

Joy Y. Age 15, Mumbai, India

“I have prepared a small piece of Mandala Art; A Mandala is a Sanskrit work which means a circle, it is geometric design that holds a great deal of symbolism in Hindu and Buddhist culture. Mandala has a symbolic and meditative meaning beyond their vibrant appearance. The circles made of from dots and lines starting from the centre and spreading to all the sides. Very recently I have started practicing this art since Mumbai Smiles has organized a workshop for us and I find out very interesting since its need large amount of concentration and perfectness in each dots, lines and circles. If one dot, line or circle has not place at right place then whole picture can get damage and you may have to start working again. I like to do such kind to work where I do not have to talk much and need so much concentration. When I draw Mandala Art, my brain get complete relaxation and its give me the felling of meditation. I want to become an engineer and as I know that engineer has to drew a perfect picture or design of the thinks which he wanted to make, that is why like this art very much since it is also require the same. In the art, I have shown the process of how one caterpillar become a butterfly because I am also in same processes of development. Where I become a successful, confident, rich and a achieve of great life, which is my dream.”

Hendria A. Age 9, Hankey, South Africa

My home is big and nice. We are a big family, my dad, mother, sister, and uncle.
My mother makes delicious food for us, I smile when I see it.

Raymoline F. Age 12, Patensie, South Africa

1 - Our house, the peach tree, the street we live in, my dog and I.
2 - I really enjoy our house. We have an apricot tree at our house. Myself and my dog like to walk in the street. I think our house is precious. My friends and I play nicely together.

Phan H. Age 16, Cam Hai Tay, Khanh Hoa, ViệtNam

I have been always dreaming of a world where people live in peace no matter what gender they are;
a world with no prejudice on LGBT group.

Hồ Thị Thanh N. Age 13, Huế, ViệtNam

I am taught at school to always keep my hands clean and wear masks to prevent Coronavirus from spreading. This painting is a reminder for us all about the right thing we should do.

Phạm Thị Thảo T. Age 17, Huế, ViệtNam

The floods in Central Vietnam have just passed, but left severe impacts on our lives. Though much luckier than many, my mind still gets stuck with what I read and saw on the media. Thousands of people had to live on the edge with their house completely sunk in the ferocious water. However, there were good people out there who wouldn’t mind the danger to send help. I saw on the TV, there was a village in Bình Thuận province where people decided to prepare Bánh Chưng, a traditional food that is normally eaten during Vietnamese New Year, and sent to those suffering from food shortage due to the floods in the middle of Vietnam. Bánh Chưng was chosen because it could be kept for a long time and therefore could survive the long-haul journey to the victims. This really touched me. I think this is a great story about compassion.

Nguyễn D. Age 13, Huế, ViệtNam

Family should be a place full of love and joy. No Children want to witness sorrows and pain in their family. A girl is sitting in a dark corner of the house crying because she can not do anything while her parents are fighting. Her dad is an alcoholic. Her mom tries her best to make the family a worthy place. As for me, Family is the most important place. I wish parents understand their children’s feelings. Children just want to live a normal life like the kids in many other families.

Lam Thuy P. Age 12, Cam Duc, Khanh Hoa, ViệtNam

This is the most unforgettable moment of my life when I went camping with my friends at the church. That was the first time I was away from home for one night. Most of the time, at night everyone had to go to sleep, but we were so excited that we stayed up all night long singing along with the guitar. I have still been keeping those good memories in my mind.