HEALING HEARTS
How Art Therapy is helping displaced women in Ukraine
HEALING HEARTS UKRAINE
OCTOBER 2022
In early September 2022 I travelled to Ukraine to do art therapy workshops with internally displaced women in Ukraine. What a privilege it was to encourage and bless these women who have experienced such tragedy and loss. And how humbling to receive their hugs of gratitude and thanks.
Over 10 days I travelled approx. 2000km, distributed 100 Healing Hearts workbooks, met 50 internally displaced women, held 4 art therapy workshops and cried more tears then I can count. Seeing the destruction of residential buildings and homes and hearing so many heartbreaking stories, it is clear the war is impacting every level of society and the most vulnerable are suffering the greatest.
Despite their deep sense of grief, Ukrainians are a resilient and determined people and their resolve to maintain their freedom is undaunted. The cost of their freedom, however, is high. Our prayers for them are more important than ever.
- Allison
ART CROSSES
CULTURES
AND SPEAKS DIRECTLY
TO THE HEART
ART IN HEALING
WHAT IS ART THERAPY?
Art therapy is an effective counselling tool to support healing for those suffering from trauma, grief and loss due to violence, persecution, abuse, war and displacement.
Many people carrying traumatic injury find their experiences too difficult to express in words. Communicating pain through art is a scientifically proven pathway to recovery.
THE TEAR GARDEN
INSPIRED BY PSALMS 56
Allison is not only our Creative Director but also an Art Therapist and visual artist.
After the Easter Sunday Bombings in Sri Lanka, Allison created 'The Tear Garden' as a gift to bless the victims of this terrible tragedy. Since then, many women around the world have been blessed by this piece, which has also been translated into Arabic and Ukrainian.
