On July 15, 2025, a special art therapy session titled “My Inner Bird” took place at the Centre for Preschool Education and Childcare of Poltava Polytechnic. Guided by experienced trainers – associate professors from the Department of Psychology and Pedagogy of Poltava Polytechnic, Lesia Klevaka and Viktoriia Shevchuk – the young participants embarked on a magical journey into their inner world, filled with imagination, creativity, and self-discovery.
The session was held as part of the large-scale international Erasmus+ KA220-ADU project “TRUST” – Trauma of refugees in Europe: An approach through art therapy as a solidarity program for Ukraine war victims (Grant No. 2024-BE01-KA220-ADU-000257527).
The project title is decoded as follows:
TRUST
T – Trauma
R – Refugees
U – Ukraine
S – Solidarity
T – Therapy
The project is co-funded by the EU and led by the Centre Neuro Psychiatrique St-Martin from Belgium, in partnership with the National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” (Ukraine), Greek Carers Network EPIONI (Greece), Fondazione Don Luigi Di Liegro (Italy), Lekama Foundation (Luxembourg), EuroPlural Project (Portugal).
The aim of the session was not simply to entertain but to explore emotional states through the powerful metaphor of a bird, to offer emotional support, and to restore the children's inner resources in a soft, playful format. In the context of war, where a child’s world is filled with anxiety, loss, and uncertainty, art therapy becomes a language to express what words often cannot.
The children were invited to imagine that each of them carried a bird inside – small, kind, intense, or dreamy. Together with the trainers, they envisioned what it looked like, where it nested, what it loved, and how it could be supported. This process allows the child to distance themselves from traumatic experiences safely, speaking of them through the image of the bird, saying, for example, “my bird is afraid of loud noises” instead of “I am afraid”.
The central part of the session was a creative activity. Using paints, pencils, and collage, the children visualised their “inner bird”. This process is a vital act of externalisation – bringing internal experiences into the open. What once felt chaotic and frightening inside becomes visible and manageable on a sheet of paper. Each drawing served as a unique diagnostic and therapeutic tool: a bird in flight might symbolize hope, while one hiding in its nest could reflect a need for protection and safety. Giving the bird a name and telling its story, the child wasn’t just playing but unconsciously healing, affirming the belief: “Being myself is wonderful!”
A particularly special moment was the physical activity called “Wings Behind My Back”. This was a critically important stage, as trauma lives not only in thoughts but also in the body, creating tension and restricting movement. Under the trainers’ guidance, children imagined strong wings unfolding behind their backs, made gentle flapping motions as if preparing to fly, and spoke words of encouragement to themselves. This process of bodily embodiment helps release physical tension and restores a sense of personal strength, bodily control, and freedom.
At the end of the session, the participants gathered in a circle to share something truly precious – what each would take away from their bird’s “nest”. From the mouths of children came simple but profoundly meaningful words: “joy”, “smile”, “love”, “calm”, “mom”, “a warm sunbeam”. These weren’t just words but verbalised and consciously recognised inner resources – the “psychological anchors” a child can turn to in moments of hardship.
Such sessions are more than play; they are an essential tool for psychological resilience. In a safe space, children learn to understand and accept their emotions, restore a sense of safety that war has destroyed, and build self-confidence. When art meets care, true miracles are born – miracles that help small hearts build inner fortresses of strength.
Each such meeting serves as a powerful reminder of what matters most: the strength of human connection and the healing power of art, where words fall short. The Erasmus+ KA220-ADU “TRUST” project team will continue to create these safe spaces, seeking new ways to spark the light of hope in children's hearts. Because today, every child's smile, every sense of safety, and every peaceful moment is our shared victory over the darkness of war. And this support – genuine and unconditional – is the most valuable resource on the path to healing.
Media Centre of
National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”
