Arts & Crafts Programs

 
 

Meet Yolande van Heerden, Our Art Director

We are thrilled to introduce Yolande van Heerden, our talented Art Director at Boys & Girls Clubs of the Mississippi Delta. Yolande, a well-known Greenwood art teacher, joined our team on September 1, 2023, bringing a wealth of experience and passion for nurturing creativity and entrepreneurship in young minds.

The Charm Bracelet Program:

  • Skills Beyond Art: Teens and kids (ages 6+) learn business basics—design, pricing, marketing—while building confidence.

  • Community Impact: Nearly 100% of bracelets sold at the 2025 Greenwood Spring Arts+Craft Market!

  • Celebrating Success: Members proudly hold up envelopes with their earnings, proving creativity can turn into real-world rewards.

  • Crafting Memories—and Entrepreneurs!

    Yolande has hit the ground running, collaborating with each Club’s director to tailor unique programs. Our member paint vibrant murals and explore science through art.

    She also launched the Charm Bracelet Program, a hands-on entrepreneurship project where youth design, price, and sell their creations—keeping 100% of the profits!

  • A young boy with a big smile holding up a colorful drawing of a hand with rainbow-colored fingers and a yellow sun on a white paper. Another girl in a red shirt is focused on her drawing at a table in the background. The setting has a bright yellow wall.

    The Montessori Touch

    A native of South Africa, Yolande blends Montessori and Reggio Emilia methods with real-world business skills.

    "Arts and crafts aren’t just fun—they’re a gateway to problem-solving, connection, and even entrepreneurship. Watching our members light up when they sell their bracelets? That’s the moment they see who they can become."

  • A young boy sitting at a blue table, using a small roller to paint a paper with blue paint.

    Unwinding and Connecting

    Children and teens arrive after school needing space to unwind. Arts and crafts—whether painting or bracelet-making—provide that outlet while teaching essential life skills.

    David Dallas, CEO:
    "The Charm Bracelet Program is a win-win. Kids express themselves, learn the value of their work, and our community gets to support their growth."

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