The week at the shelter began with new and interesting activities and workshops. Our teacher worked with children who had temporarily stopped at the shelter on their way to a health camp.
This time, the children participated in an art therapy session. The goal was for them to understand and manage their fears. The children drew monsters that lived on the island of “Fear” and explained why these monsters caused them feelings of fear and disgust.
After that, the teacher suggested drawing superheroes from the planet “Courage” and giving them powers that could turn evil into good, hatred into love, and sadness into happiness. In the end, the heroes’ confrontation with the monsters resulted in friendship winning.
Fear is merely a projection of internal anxiety. However, it is important to explain to children that all of their feelings are significant and should not be feared to share, as these emotions can sometimes lead to self-destructive behavior, especially in young children.
Art therapy sessions allow children to better understand their feelings and emotions and learn how to handle stressful situations. The heroes that the children created are manifestations of their reactions to negative factors. Such practices help to better understand how to overcome stress.
We would like to remind you that the shelter is currently implementing a project within the framework of a grant program supporting the initiatives of internally displaced persons. This project is implemented by the NGO “CrimeaSOS” and funded by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
