Arts Lab 7.0: Salma Hussein | Month I

What a month, what a month!

After the first month of this experience, I can describe it as a journey of self-discovery, art, and learning to see the world through a different lens. Even though I know it’s primarily an artistic volunteering program, its impact on me as a person so far is no less than its impact on me as an artist. The effort and hard work that went into building a real family and community, I can truly feel it now that I’m here. And within just the first month, I understood why everyone told me this would be a life-changing experience, not just as an artist, but also as a human being.

Findings: Every single day this month, I discovered a new truth, whether it was at home with my friends, while working with the children in schools, or during the events. One of the first things I learned is that people are the same everywhere, no matter their nationality, religion, skin color, or language. We all feel the same emotions, we love, we get angry, we laugh, we cry, in such similar ways. The distances between countries and languages might seem far, but the distance between hearts isn't. You can build a real connection with just eye contact.

I’ve seen how even the shyest children become brave when they see someone else doing something they were too scared to try. They suddenly feel it’s fun, it’s not scary, and that if someone else could do it, they can too. That sense of encouragement, of connection, of shared humanity, it’s one of the most powerful things I’ve experienced so far.

I’ve also discovered how incredibly smart and creative children are, far more than they believe themselves to be. They are fully capable of creating beautiful things when they are introduced to the right kind of art, the kind that truly interests and excites them. Many of them think they aren’t capable of much, but the truth is, they’re just waiting for someone to truly believe in them and give them the confidence to start.

But I also realized something about us as adults, sometimes we give children “confidence” with our words, but not with our hearts. Not because we don’t believe in them, but because we’ve been conditioned to say positive things automatically, without really meaning them. And that taught me something else, even trust and belief have different ways of being expressed. Each child understands encouragement differently, depending on their personality.

And that brings me to another important realization: just like every adult is different, every child is different too. They don’t all act the same, and each one has their own kind of creativity. They don’t just copy or imitate others in a repetitive way, unlike many adults who’ve been conditioned to follow formulas to “succeed.” For children, success means something completely different. It’s simpler, deeper, and so much more pure than the way we adults usually define it.

Facts: I also learned that communication is always the answer, not just during conflicts. We should always treat each other with kindness, compassion, and humanity, and learn to appreciate each other’s flaws and mistakes just as we appreciate each other’s strengths. If something is bothering me or I don’t understand something, I learned not to stay upset in silence, but to speak up and ask. There’s always a hand ready to help, an ear to listen, and a heart to understand and comfort.

Another important realization was that my plans won’t always work. There will always be moments where I need to improvise or come up with a plan B, especially if my original idea fails at the last minute or turns out to be unsuitable for the people, place, or event. But at the same time, good planning is incredibly valuable. It helped me so many times. Being aware of the size and nature of the task ahead allowed me to prepare more effectively, because not every task requires the same amount of effort or time.

And not every event needs the same kind of preparation. For example, sometimes I needed to prepare games, and other times I had to come up with an artistic project with the kids. Both are very different, but both had a powerful, meaningful impact on the children, because both involved real communication: with us, with each other, and even within themselves.

Feelings: Throughout the month, my emotions while working with the children felt like a rollercoaster. Before coming to Romania, I was sure I didn’t like kids, I actually believed I disliked being around them. Even though I had worked with children and teenagers before, I had always told myself I didn’t enjoy it. But something shifted the moment I started working here.

I began to discover things about myself, old traumas connected to children, and I realized that my mind had created this belief of “not liking kids” as a way to protect me. It wasn’t real hate, it was just a defense mechanism I wasn't even aware of. That made the entire experience incredibly emotional, because I was, in many ways, just like them, still discovering myself, still getting lost sometimes.

That’s why I now believe Arts Lab isn’t just a place that creates a safe space for artists, it’s a space for people to heal, to grow, and to rediscover who they are.

Now, working with children has become one of the most joyful and fulfilling parts of my day. I feel like I’m surrounded by the people who are just like me, and I was lucky enough that they loved me back, just as much as I learned to love them. Without even knowing it, their hugs, their dancing, their playfulness, it all became part of what healed me from the inside. It made me calmer, lighter, and more at peace with myself.

And honestly, I think I learned more from them than they ever learned from me, not just as a person, but also as an artist. Their minds are so free, their hearts so awake, and the way they express themselves made me wish I could always be as creative as they are. They reminded me what raw, fearless creativity looks like, unfiltered, emotional, honest. It’s something I hope I carry with me in my own art moving forward.

Future: I hope that, moving forward, I’ll be able to ask for help more often. I’ve experienced firsthand how much support can make things easier, help me accomplish more in less time, and shorten the distance between where I am and where I want to be. But I’ve always had this tendency to do everything on my own, without asking for anything from anyone, because I didn’t want to bother people or depend on them. That mindset made it hard sometimes.

Now, I realize that I don’t have to be a one-man show anymore. I have a real artistic family around me, and that means I can lean on others when I need to. I can be part of something bigger.

I also hope to continue growing as an artist, to explore new forms of art, to try things I’ve never done before, and to give myself the freedom to do it with curiosity instead of fear. I want to allow myself that space, to create, to experiment, and to make things in my own way, in ways that reflect who I truly am.

And one day, I hope I can build a family and a community like the one I’ve found here, one where we do things with heart, not habit, and where we’re not afraid to be different.

This monthly report was written by Salma Hussein, our Egyptian volunteer taking part in a seven-month Arts Lab 7.0 mobility, co-funded by the European Union under the European Solidarity Corps.