Karwan-e-Hayat is one of the leading mental health care centers in Pakistan.

Around 2 million people have mental illness in Karachi. Karwan-e-Hayat, as one of the leading mental health care centers, provides Out-Patient Clinics, Psychiatric Care, Rehabilitation and Community Outreach Services to their clients. Their aim is prevention, treatment of mental disorders and their subsequent disabilities, and rehabilitation of the patients so that they can return to the mainstream of life.

I was assigned to conduct a one-day workshop with the adults and senior clients aged 40-70 years. The workshop included basic drawing and puppet making activities that focused on providing an outlet to share individual stories of comfort and pain. The clients made incredible puppets. They exhibited immense joy. This workshop was also designed to show how creative art making can help specialists (doctors and nurses) provide better care to the clients.