Snagov Olympic Sports Club Association – Workshops focused on unlocking emotions
It’s summer, the sun is oozing through the tree leaves and the forest is ringing with children’s voices. You would not suspect for a second, if you were watching them dive eagerly into the various activities, what dark images they hide inside.
But Anastasiia Konovalova, a mother and primary school English teacher, tells us that these images are real: “As a teacher, I always keep an eye on the children. What I noticed was this dreadful lack of stability they were living with. Everyone was glued to their phones. Mothers were also living with this horrible shock and it was very tough, especially on children. They were facing aggression, depression. They couldn’t grasp what was happening to their lives.” But Anastasiia Konovalova, a mother and primary school English teacher, tells us that these images are real: “As a teacher, I always keep an eye on the children.·What I noticed was this dreadful lack of stability they were living with. Everyone was glued to their phones. Mothers were also living with this horrible shock and it was very difficult, especially for the children. They were dealing with aggression, depression. They couldn’t grasp what was happening to their lives.”
When faced with such a scenario, arts and sports therapy, especially in a nature setting, can be the mix catalyzing the expression of repressed emotions in a fun way that unlocks children’s energy and puts a smile back on their faces.
If you ask mothers who have fled the war and settled temporarily in Romania what they need, the top priority is to support their children’s education and emotional health.
“Most mothers came here for their children’s sake,” explains Anatasiia. “Having like-minded people around us makes it easier for us to integrate into society and especially to support our children.”
The same observation made the psychologists who run a support group focused on therapy through arts and sports as part of a project managed by the Snagov Olympic Sports Club Association. By offering a space where children can enjoy the silence and express themselves non-verbally, they make room for arts and movement as ways of expressing emotions.
Summer for the Ukrainian children who took part in the project meant trips to the movies and museums to facilitate cultural exchange, music, painting and psychological counselling for parents.
“This NGO has offered us the three main elements of a normal childhood and balanced mental development: education, sports, arts,” says Anatasiia, who believes we need to realize that the war is not over and the children are still dealing with the trauma of being away from the extended families and seeing the adults around them overwhelmed.
“Through art they manage to express these feelings. And sports help them get a physical release. Formal education makes sure they have discipline, boundaries and stability. So we can see how this project has a huge impact on their emotional health. The arguments, inconsolable crying, panic attacks have become less frequent or disappeared altogether,” Anatasiia says about the effect of the children’s activities, which she considers essential because the mothers left Ukraine for their sake.
Psychologist Silviu Ioniță says when building a community it is vital to ensure the people you work with have initiative. That’s how the idea was born for the children to clean up the Snagov forest where they got together for art therapy.”It’s a very nice gesture on their part and we gladly accepted, we took care of the organization. They feel the need to give back to their supporters,” says Silviu Ioniță. The forest clean-up was closely related to art therapy because from the objects they collected – bottles, cans – the children were able to construct a new meaning.
Mothers of the Ukrainian children also talk about the initiative and the desire to contribute to the community.
“Please don’t treat us as victims” is the message Anastasiia wants to send.
“We are survivors. Let us be part of your community, don’t look at us as the Other. We are suffering, but that’s not something that identifies us. We’re just like you, so treat us the same way. We can help, we can be part of your community and we can contribute, not just receive. The greatest help we can get is when we are treated as equals.”
The Snagov Olympic Sports Club Association is one of the organizations that are part of Care for Ukraine Project, funded by CARE through SERA Romania Foundation, CARE France and FONPC.
