Trustee Leader Scholar Spotlight: Creative Play Malaysia
Noa Doucette’24 (center, white shirt) and Ifigeneia Gianne’25 (center, striped shirt) pose for a portrait with refugee educators in Kuala Lumpur. Photo courtesy of Creative Play.
Ifigeneia Gianne’25 and Noa Doucette’24 established Creative Play so educators in Malaysia can combine art and education to enhance the lives of refugee communities.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Ifigeneia Gianne and Noa Doucette, co-founders of the Trustee Leader Scholar (TLS) Project Creative Play and two inspiring women whose work with refugee communities in Malaysia is transforming lives through the power of art and education.
The TLS program supports leadership development through hands-on, student-initiated community engagement projects. TLS scholars propose, design, and implement their own local, national, and international projects based on their own interests.
Gianne is a senior at Bard majoring in Theater & Performance and Anthropology and is currently working on her senior projects. Doucette, who graduated in May 2024 with a degree in International Studies, is a violinist and fiber artist taking a gap year while developing Creative Play’s curriculum for young children.
Creative Play’s curriculum is designed to support refugee educators by integrating play and creativity into their teaching. “Our goal is to encourage curiosity, critical thinking, and artistic experimentation in refugee students,” says Gianne.
The project began during a trip to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where the co-founders were running an ethnography study on refugee communities. The two say they were deeply moved by the resilience of the communities they met. “We wanted to create something that fostered creativity while giving educators the tools to engage their students in a meaningful way,” says Doucette.
Reflecting on their recent work, Doucette shared a special moment from a music workshop where their team improvised songs based on the children’s drawings. “The kids loved it! They lit up, and their excitement became contagious. That kind of energy is what drives this project forward.”
I also spoke with Mujtaba Naqib ’24, a senior majoring in Computer Science who is set to graduate in December. His journey is characterized by unique global experiences. Though originally from Afghanistan, he spent most of his life as a migrant in Malaysia. His background has deeply influenced his approach to community-driven projects at Bard.
Although Naqib has been a part of Creative Play since 2023, he only became an official TLS scholar this fall. “I was having dinner at Kline when I met Noa,” says Naqib. “We connected over our shared experiences with refugee communities in Malaysia, and before I knew it, I was part of the team."
Creative Play Malaysia struck a chord with Mujtaba, who saw it as a way to give back to a community that had once been close to him. "I had a lot of friends who were refugees in Malaysia. And after the Taliban takeover, I, too, became a refugee when I immigrated to the U.S. It felt personal, and I knew I had to contribute."
The energy and dedication of his collaborators have kept him inspired. "Seeing their enthusiasm has been truly motivating. I am certain that Creative Play will make a lasting difference in the lives of many children."
Gianne and Doucette are now expanding their workshops into a year-long curriculum for refugee schools, with the hopes of integrating creative play into students’ weekly routines. "We’re grateful for the support of the teachers who are willing to test and refine the lessons with us," Gianne says.
Naqib suggests that students who are eager to start on their path to becoming civic leaders reach out to Paul Marienthal or Lucy Huffman (Director and Coordinator) at TLS because "They’ll guide you to make a real impact."
Both Gianne and Doucette emphasize the importance of teamwork as well. “Build a strong team that supports each other,” Doucette advises. “You’ll face challenges, but with motivated people by your side, you can overcome anything.”
For those looking to get involved, Creative Play is always open to collaboration. Whether through fundraising or spreading awareness, there’s a place for anyone passionate about education and refugee advocacy. Check out the Creative Play website and follow them on Instagram. Also email Paul Mariental and Lucy Huffman to find out more about TLS.
Post Date: 09-19-2024