For more than one year, the Société Elizabeth Fry du Québec (SEFQ) has been closely collaborating with Engrenage Noir LEVIER in the realization of the Agir par l’imaginaire project. 

On the occasion of the 7th World Social Forum, held this year in Belem, Brazil, LEVIER invited the SEFQ to assist in the presentation of a workshop entitled “Community Art as a Tool in the Battle of Poverty and Social Exclusion”.  Aleksandra Zajko, Development Officer for the SEFQ was joined by three representatives supported by LEVIER: Johanne Chagnon, co-director of LEVIER and artist in the community organization Le CARRÉ;  Maria, participant in the photography project of the LA RUE DES FEMMES organization and Laea, in the Young Parents Program in the À DEUX MAINS organization.

Thus, the SEFQ had the opportunity to present for the first time (in french, english and spanish) its mission, its services as well as its pilot project, Agir par l’imaginaire that is run in collaboration with LEVIER. Approximately forty people from France, Colombia, The Congo, Brazil, Peru, and Quebec attended this session (despite the heat and the noise of the fan) where we discussed our workshop.  We shared many audio and video clips of  the work completed by the women and artists in the singing and video workshops in Tanguay Prison and the self-portrait workshop in Philippe Pinel Institute.

During the Forum, we were also able to take part in different sessions.  This international event was for us an unparalleled chance to create relationships and to share ideas with other people facing similar battles to ours in order to continue to enrich and improve our services.