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volunteer project

Open your heart

Volunteer project - May 16, 2024

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Rehabilitation of children in Ukraine affected by the stressful situations related to the war through art therapeutic shows and interactive plays.

aiThe main goal of the "Open Your Heart" project is to eliminate the effects of trauma and adapt preschool and school-age children to life in current times through psychological and arts activities.
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aiThis requires working on the following aspects:
ai- removing aggression;
ai- fighting fears;
ai- the opportunity to release creative and physical energy.
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aiIt is necessary to apply new practices dictated by the times. We developed this approach - performance therapy - together with child psychologists and representatives of the theatre community during the Kharkiv Puppet Theatre's "tour" in the subway.
Rehabilitation of children in Ukraine affected by the stressful situations related to the war through art therapeutic shows and interactive plays.

What we are doing to help

aiOur volunteer group came up with the idea of interactive performances while showing the play "Princesses Are Different" based on the fairy tales by H.C. Andersen "The Princess and the Pigman" and "The Princess on the Pea", which we started showing to children in the Kharkiv subway in March 2022. 
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aiKharkiv suffered from bombing in the early days of the russian army's invasion. Kharkiv residents were forced to take refuge in the subway. For several months, people lived underground. During that time, we performed more than 200 performances for children, reaching 10,000 children and their families. We saw the happy eyes of children as the young viewers could forget about the war and remember peaceful everyday life, dream and laugh.
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aiHaving seen the positive psychological and emotional effect these performances had on children, we developed travelling performances to reach more young audiences, not only in Kharkiv but also in the neighbouring small communities of the region.
What we are doing to help

The Impact

aiToday, I am Roman Panchenko, a producer and volunteer; Oleksandra Shlykova, an actress from the Kharkiv Puppet Theatre; and Anton Andriushchenko, an actor keep going to the cities near the frontline and those liberated after the occupation of Kharkiv and Donetsk regions, where we show art therapy performances to children. 
aiThese are interactive performances that allow young viewers to become heroes of the play, share their emotions, and receive a positive therapeutic effect from engaging in the game. Interactive performances and physical education classes help to establish a trusting atmosphere to identify problem areas that need to be dealt with further.
The Impact

Little Ukrainians believe in a fairy tale where good triumphs over evil. Let's help them see this fairy tale in our performances. Children are looking forward to our plays.

aiOur interactive therapeutic performances are waited for in Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Balakliia, Pisochyn, Valky. And we would like to be able to meet with young viewers on a regular basis. These towns were not chosen by chance, as they are the locations of centres for evacuated people with children from the frontline and de-occupied territories. We are planning to start our visits on 15 June 2024, so we really need your support: to buy fuel, technical inspection of the vehicle, consumables for performances, purchase costumes, update props and playthings. We plan to show 10 performances. We need about $500 for each performance.
Little Ukrainians believe in a fairy tale where good triumphs over evil. Let's help them see this fairy tale in our performances. Children are looking forward to our plays.

...instrumental in preparing and holding outdoor performances for children and teenagers who were hiding in Kharkiv metro stations.

All children who have experienced negative emotions related to the war, albeit to varying degrees, need help.

Children learn about world through play. At our performances, they become participants in the play and do it with pleasure.

Social, psychological, cultural - all kinds of support adults can provide them. Let's do it together!

We are painting, writing, playing with children

A letter of gratitude from the administration of the community. "Thank you for gifting our children with a fairy tale"

A letter of gratitude from the administration of the community. "Thank you for gifting our children with a fairy tale"

All children who have experienced negative emotions related to the war, albeit to varying degrees, need help.

Children learn about world through play. At our performances, they become participants in the play and do it with pleasure.

Social, psychological, cultural - all kinds of support adults can provide them. Let's do it together!

Bogdan and Dmitry Girich

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Helping to Win!