From January 20 to 24, 2026, a team from the National University «Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic», “TRUST” project managers, staff and students, participated in a captivating five-day intensive module (ATP – Art Therapy Performance) in Braga, Portugal. This event was held as part of the 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 Developpement (Luxembourg), EuroPlural Project (Portugal).
The ATP in Braga, marking the next significant step in implementing the solidarity program for victims of the war in Ukraine, brought together partners from five European countries in the hospitable city of Braga, Portugal – a place that blends deep traditions with innovative social development. The project, coordinated by the Belgian Centre Neuro Psychiatrique St-Martin, has a critically important mission: to support the mental health of war victims in Ukraine through culturally competent art therapy. Poltava Polytechnic’s participation as a key Ukrainian partner underscores the importance of humanistic initiatives amidst the full-scale aggression.
The delegation from Poltava Polytechnic included: Project Manager Anna Pavelieva, Associate Professor of the Department of Germanic Philology and Translation; Maryna Teslenko, PhD in Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Psychology and Pedagogy; Viktoriia Shevchuk, PhD in Psychological Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Psychology and Pedagogy; and students: Anna Onoprienko (Group 401-FF), Anastasia Hryb (Group 202-KB), Anastasia Kolodiazhna (Group 301-FP), and Bohdan Belyanskyi (Group 402-NG).
Participants of the program had the opportunity to deeply immerse themselves in the multifaceted and transformative world of art therapy, which combined an integrative approach to choreology, dance therapy practices, visual arts, and mental health care aspects. The main activities took place at the innovative platform “HPH – Human Power Hub”, which became the epicenter of the week-long collaborative creation.
The first day of the mobility was dedicated not so much to art as to strengthening the partnership network and planning. On Wednesday, January 21, 2026, a Transnational Project Meeting (TPM) was held, where participants from all countries coordinated further actions, exchanged results from the implementation of pilot programs, and agreed on the logistics for the final stages of the project. This exchange of experience is a vital component of the Erasmus+ program, as it ensures the harmonization of the quality of therapeutic services provided across various EU countries.
Starting Thursday, the intensive practical block, which became the true heart of this mobility, commenced. The workshops focused on creative exploration and skill development. Participants were divided into two rotating groups (“yellow” and “blue”) to work with leading specialists from Portugal: choreographer Rubielson Medeiros and dance therapist Laís Duarte.
The “yellow” group focused on choreology – the study of movement structure as language – while the “blue” group worked with dance therapy aimed at listening to one’s body. These practices allowed participants, especially those who had experienced trauma, to move beyond verbal communication and express their inner state through physical freedom and rhythm. Special attention was paid to the “Spontaneous Composition” technique, which facilitated the rapid establishment of trust in the intercultural environment.
The culmination of the creative process on Friday was the work on choreographic construction and artistic creation using soil and movement (canvas painting). This was a deeply symbolic process. All participants were asked to bring a small amount of sifted soil from their homeland. This “artifact” from home symbolized a connection to their roots, memory, identity, and inner foundation. Transferring this soil onto a large canvas through movement became a physical act of integrating past experiences into a new, shared present, transforming pain into a visual and material image of hope. For the students of Poltava Polytechnic, especially those who are internally displaced persons, this exercise took on a particularly powerful personal significance, allowing them to symbolically “ground themselves” in a new, safe space.
On the same day, an excursion to the UNESCO World Heritage site, the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte, provided participants with emotional recharging and cultural enrichment.
The final day, Saturday, January 24, 2026, was entirely dedicated to finalizing and presenting the collaborative creation. Following rehearsals of the art object titled “Tears in Earth” Painting, the main event of the mobility took place – the ATP art therapy performance “The Body in the Museum: A Health-Performance” at the Diogo de Sousa Archaeological Museum. This was a multidisciplinary intervention that transformed the museum space into a sensitive territory where movement, breath, and memory intersected with historical heritage. Participation in this performance, created collaboratively with Portuguese experts and other refugees from various EU countries, served as powerful testimony to collective resilience and the healing power of art. The event concluded with a farewell dinner, symbolizing not only the end of the mobility but also the strengthening of the strong professional and personal bonds formed throughout the week.
The participation in the art therapy performances in Braga marked an important stage for Poltava Polytechnic in fulfilling the mission of the “TRUST” project. We are not only disseminating knowledge about the therapeutic benefits of art therapy among adult educators but also providing direct emotional support through shared creative activity. This is a vivid example of European solidarity, where art becomes the language of the soul, helping to transform pain into new meanings and images of hope.
Poltava Polytechnic’s team expresses deep and sincere gratitude to the event organizers – EuroPlural Project (Portugal). Special thanks are extended to the President of EuroPlural Project, Professor Joao Alves – PhD, MD (Psychiatry, Psychotherapy), as well as the talented specialists: choreographer Rubielson Medeiros and dance therapist Laís Duarte.
We also express our deepest respect to all project partners who supported this initiative: Centre Neuro Psychiatrique St-Martin (Belgium), Greek Carers Network EPIONI (Greece), Fondazione Don Luigi Di Liegro (Italy), Lekama Developpement (Luxembourg)! In these challenging times, your collaborative work and support are invaluable. This project is not just an academic or therapeutic program; it is a vital act of European solidarity that harnesses the power of art to transform pain into resilience and hope. Thank you for this powerful platform!
