History
The story of Crea Thera
The Early Years (2006-2008)
Crea Thera was born in 2006 during a summer camp in Srebrenica, led by music therapist Thomas Deleu. The camp brought children together, eleven years after the Bosnian War, to restore connections between communities through a musical theater production. This inspiring initiative resulted in two additional creative camps and eventually the founding of Crea Thera International as a non-profit organization in 2008.
Work with Children (2008-2010)
In its early years, Crea Thera focused on children from Srebrenica and nearby villages. Through creative workshops such as music, theater, dance, and art therapy, children were supported in their personal development. Crea Thera also organized sessions in a refugee camp in Tuzla. A new team of therapists took over the work every six to twelve months.
Expansion to Adults (2010)
In 2010, Crea Thera began offering creative workshops and psychotherapeutic group sessions for women in Srebrenica, under the guidance of Bosnian psychotherapist Ajla Terzic. Although the stigma around therapy limited participation, Crea Thera remained committed to inclusivity and mental health.
Collaborations and New Projects (2011-2015)
From 2011 to 2013, Crea Thera organized music therapy sessions for drug addicts in Doboj. Between 2013 and 2015, the team worked in the child psychiatry department of the University Hospital Kosovo in Sarajevo, providing weekly sessions for children with psychological challenges.
A Sustainable Model (2016-2019)
In 2016, with support from the province of West Flanders, Crea Thera launched a project to train local workshop leaders. Subprojects such as Sources of Life and The Power of Creative Therapies in Destigmatizing People with Mental Health Disorders in Bosnia-Herzegovina (Rep Srpska) strengthened work with children and day patients.
Although the Bosnian branch was suspended in 2019 due to organizational challenges, music camps for children in mountain villages such as Osmace and Osat remained a focal point.
New Directions in Belgium (2016-Present)
Crea Thera began projects in Belgium such as Music Home, empowering refugees through music. Its success led to initiatives like Beats, Words & Moves in reception centers and schools, and Flight, a music theater project about refugee stories.
International Expansion: Lebanon (2019-Present)
In 2019, Crea Thera started training projects in Beirut for youth workers of the NGO LOYAC. Participants learned basic techniques in music therapy to support refugee children in the Bekaa Valley. Despite the pandemic and economic challenges, the project was relaunched in 2022. To date, 56 participants have completed the intensive training.
In January 2023, I SEE YOU, a music theater project in Beirut, was launched, giving vulnerable youth a platform to share their experiences. This project will continue in 2024-2025 with new groups. However, the conflict in Gaza and its spillover into Lebanon caused another interruption. Hopefully, the project can resume in 2025.
