Art therapy for children of the Ivankiv community
According to the memorandum of cooperation concluded with Ivankiv Lyceum No. 1, the specialist of the social center, the organizer of cultural and leisure activities Svitlana Melnychenko conducts weekly classes with elements of art therapy for students, aimed at psychosocial relief of children living in areas contaminated with explosives.
Children of the Ivankiv community have been living under the pressure of war for four years, have survived de-occupation, and continue to feel the impact of constant air raids and shelling. The classes create a safe space for students to express emotions, reduce anxiety, and restore internal balance.
“Mosaic of my emotions”
Last week, a series of art therapy classes were held with students in grades 3 and 4. In particular, the program “Mosaic of My Emotions” was implemented, where children expressed their feelings through chaotic lines – joy, resentment, hope, fear, love, expectations – and then tore the drawings into pieces and created new compositions from them. This symbolic process allowed children to experience complex emotions, let go of negativity and feel that even torn feelings can form into something beautiful.
In classes with elements of art therapy, children worked with eye templates, creating their own heroes – from superheroes to self-portraits – without restrictions or evaluations. After creative work, mobile and emotional games were held, and the classes ended with relaxation exercises: deep breathing, “shaking off tension” from the hands, imagining that the created hero gives strength and confidence.
Children shared: “So calm inside”, “I drew myself strong and brave”, “At first I was worried, but then it became easy and fun”.
Heavenly Hundred Remembrance Day
Special attention was paid last week to memorial events and patriotic education.
For the Heavenly Hundred Remembrance Day, children cut out paper angels, which were then hung on trees in the lyceum yard. White angels on branches became a symbol of living memory, which even the smallest ones cherish.
Today, for Ukrainian Women’s Day, children created postcards for mothers with great love, putting sincerity, tenderness and childlike care into every word. These activities helped children not only express their feelings, but also realize the value of memory, dignity and love for loved ones.
Results of the work
The results of the work confirm the effectiveness of the approach for children living in conditions of chronic stress in territories affected by war and contaminated with explosive objects. Classes help children reduce internal tension, develop skills in understanding their own experiences, and build self-confidence and a sense of support.
The cooperation of the Social Center “Your Hands” with Ivankiv Lyceum No. 1 demonstrates the importance of systematic work with children in communities where state services are overloaded and access to psychosocial support is limited. NGO “Your Way” continues to provide quality services to children and their families, creating a space where every child can be heard, accepted, and supported.
