What is the story behind the name Elegant Art?

The name Elegant Art comes from a unique story! Sedra was in her third grade class on an ordinary day when she heard the word, Elegant. She kept thinking, kept searching, kept looking for what this word meant. It seemed different from all the other new words she had heard before. Afterall, it was her first year in Canada and she was learning a lot at once. When Sedra finally learnt of the meaning of elegant -stylish, graceful, and pleasing- she had gotten attached to this one of a kind word. Along with that attachment came the determination to open an orgnaization that helps kids through art. The team thought hard about what name the organization will have, knowing that art must be incorporated. And then it finally clicked, Sedra remembered the word that had resonated with her for a period of time- Elegant. It was going to be Elegant Art. An organization that brings forth graceful art pieces that tell a story in style and please struggling children who deserve a playful childhood.

Why does the logo of elegant art have a bird?

Elegant Art’s logo consists of a colorful bird to showcase our mission- breaking children in Syrian refugee camps and children in suffering globally free from the night-filled cage they’ve been locked in, allowing them to soar high and show all their bright colors, speak about all their opinions, and be able to help us open the cages of many other children. We want to let all the children who have been told to stay silent know that now is time for that to change; we will show the power of youth.

How do you manage your academics and organization as youth?

It is quite a tough situation to organize, but time management plays a key role in the balance of academics, your own organization, and other commitments. What we make sure to do is to set a daily to-do-list that will allow us to visually see what tasks need to get done for the day. That is all while keeping in mind having some time for yourself each day to recharge and socialize. In addition, getting into the mindset that you need to keep a fair balance between all that you value is very important because building up an organization takes time and won’t happen overnight, so being patient with the process and prioritizing aspects you care about are necessary. Overall, practicing time management, prioritizing your values, being patient, setting time for your own well-being and creating balance will help you push forward in your courageous journey!

What was the first thing you did when you started elegant art?

The first thing we did after organizing our thoughts on what Elegant Art was going to exactly be there for is we filmed a video that went on Facebook. We started a new facebook page called Elegant Art and with the help of our wonderful dad, we were able to film a video talking about the idea of creating art pieces to help Syrian kids in refugee camps. We then posted it on our new page and soon got a lot of interaction that surprised us. That interaction and all the motivation people gave us online was immaculate and is what really made us build onto Elegant Art, which was just a simple idea.

Any advice for youth who want to become changemakers like yourselves?

Absolutely! First off, if you are a youth who wants to make change, congratulations! You have already made a HUGE decision that will put smiles on countless people’s faces. When you want to make change around the world, you firstly need to choose a topic that you truly care about and have a passion for. Without passion and true care, any obstacle that will get in the way of your journey can have a devastating impact on you, making you give up easier. On the other hand with strong passion, no obstacle can stand in the way of the immense determination you hold. Secondly, ask professionals who are doing work similar to what you envision to do. You can get a lot of information and inspiration from connecting with people through a short online meeting, so don’t be afraid to say, “Hi, I find the work you are doing very inspiring and would be interested in connecting through a short online meeting to learn more about your journey and work.” And lastly, look for opportunities and talk about what you want to do. Searching for opportunities can be difficult at first, but when you start to tell a lot of people about your passion and what change you want to make, you will get so much support and opportunities from many individuals. It is all about taking that first step. We were also in the position where we found it “embarassing” to talk about our work and spread word about it. Though soon enough, we realized that you should NEVER be “embarassed” about telling others about the AMAZING work you do because that is the first step towards big opportunities. Being a changemaker is hard work, so know that you are one of the fewer people who step up to make our world a better place and be kind to yourself throughout the process- you are doing great!