The Project and Its Social Purpose
The full-scale war has changed everyday life for millions of Ukrainians. Displacement, separation from loved ones, the loss of familiar surroundings, prolonged insecurity and uncertainty create a need for accessible and culturally sensitive support. These needs concern people remaining in Ukraine as well as those who have found refuge elsewhere.
TRUST responds to these challenges by strengthening cooperation among professionals from different fields. It connects psychological support expertise with the possibilities of the arts and non-formal education. International collaboration enables partners to compare approaches, exchange practices and adapt resources to different institutional and cultural settings.
Objectives and Areas of Action
TRUST aims to contribute to the psychological and physical well-being of people affected by the war in Ukraine by developing art therapy approaches and strengthening the competences of those who support them. Its educational purpose is to create resources that help professionals make considered use of creative practices in their work.
Its objectives include sharing art therapy knowledge, developing skills for organising artistic and cultural events, presenting Ukrainians’ life stories and connecting mental health services, educational institutions, artists and civil society. Reducing stigma surrounding mental health difficulties and opening opportunities for people with different experiences are central concerns.
Cultural Sensitivity and Participation
Cultural sensitivity involves attention to a person’s language, values, traditions, circumstances and ways of expressing themselves. Within TRUST, Ukrainian experience informs an understanding of participants’ needs and the selection of learning and creative activities. Partners engage with this context in cooperation with the university and Ukrainian participants.
Practical activities use drawing, collage, music, movement, theatre, natural materials and storytelling. A variety of formats accommodates different ways of perceiving and communicating. Respect for personal boundaries, voluntary expression and mutual support within the group are important elements of the approach.
Who TRUST Supports
The initiative directly engages people experiencing the consequences of war, including refugees, internally displaced persons and other members of the Ukrainian community. Locally, Poltava Polytechnic delivers activities for students, children and families, older adults and people who support others in everyday life.
A further audience includes mental health professionals, adult educators and trainers, artists, civil society organisations and carers. The project offers opportunities for professional development, shared learning and engagement with partners’ practices. Bringing these groups together connects individual support with the work of institutions and communities.
Work Packages and Results
The project comprises five connected areas of work. Project management supports partner coordination, planning and quality monitoring. Healing through Art focuses on an educational e-book. The adult education programme brings together a curriculum, digital resources and a hybrid open online course.
The Art Peace strand encompasses international creative programmes, performances, a documentary and an artwork collection for the final installation. Communication and dissemination connect these resources with their audiences through the website, social media, information materials and public events. This structure links knowledge development, practical experience and public engagement.
European Solidarity and Continued Use of Results
In TRUST, solidarity takes practical form through resource development, shared learning, personal encounters and support for Ukrainian participants. Artistic events make people’s experiences visible, while educational resources help retain and share the knowledge developed together.
Partners envisage continued use of the results in their institutions, education programmes and community initiatives. For Poltava Polytechnic, this means developing professional dialogue, supportive practices for the university community and cooperation with organisations working with people affected by war.
Contacts and Project Information
TRUST develops through cooperation among partners, professionals, creative activity participants and organisations supporting people affected by war. Its official website brings together information about the consortium, educational resources and main results.
Questions about the international project can be addressed to its team by email. University publications present Poltava Polytechnic’s participation and local activities, while project social media provide further news, photographs and videos.
European Union Support
