Art therapy for Ukrainian refugees from Romania enters UNIQLO competition

The ESTUAR Foundation continues its activities with Ukrainian refugees, which began back in February 2022. This time, it takes the form of art therapy through four drawing workshops where psychologists and therapists from the foundation will guide and interpret the creative process of individuals interested in participating in the drawing competition proposed by UNHCR and the global UNIQLO brand, “Hope Away from Home.” The event will take place on Thursday, September 28th, starting at 11:00 AM at Romexpo.

This art competition invites young Ukrainan people aged between 10 and 30 to create drawings on the theme of “Hope Away from Home” to support refugees. The best drawings will appear on UNIQLO T-shirts, and the winners will receive special prizes from UNHCR. Artwork can be created manually, as well as on a computer or tablet. All information about the global competition is available here.

Art therapy, with a focus on drawing therapy, involves the process of creating drawings to help individuals explore and express emotions and thoughts, thereby facilitating a deeper understanding of themselves and their relationship with their inner feelings. It can be an effective form of non-verbal communication, often used to address issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and can be adapted for all ages, from children to adults.

The support provided by the ESTUAR Foundation at Romexpo, as well as at the foundation’s day center for Ukrainian refugees, includes psychological first aid counseling, face-to-face and online psychotherapy, psychological support groups, accompanying individuals to psychiatrists, and specific interventions for those with mental health issues. Over time, the foundation has also facilitated other art therapy workshops for this target group, but the focus is on both individual and group discussions.

“In our foundation’s practice, we use art therapy because it represents an efficient way to help people express and manage their emotions, explore traumas, and develop communication skills. It is a non-verbal and creative way to communicate and understand the past experiences and traumas of Ukrainian refugees. For many of these people, talking about their experiences can be extremely difficult and painful, a situation we encounter during our weekly meetings with them. Through art, they can express their feelings and experiences without feeling judged or constrained by verbal language,” explains Amedeea Enache, Executive Director of the ESTUAR Foundation.

Starting in May 2022, the ESTUAR Foundation has been co-chairing the Mental Health and Psycho-Social Support (MHPSS) Group for Ukrainian refugees along with the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health. The objectives of this group are to provide a technical platform for better coordination and focus on inter-agency emergency responses to the MHPSS needs of the populations of interest in Romania. It also aims to promote and support quality MHPSS interventions through joint capacity-building activities to ensure quality standards using the existing capacity within the country.

Continuing its programs from the previous year, the ESTUAR Foundation will provide psychological support for Ukrainian refugees until the end of 2023 through a project in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Organizations and centers in Bucharest and across the country that offer support to Ukrainian refugees and require psychological assistance can benefit from the support of the ESTUAR Foundation.

The program designed for the upcoming period includes social and psychological support in person at the ESTUAR Foundation Center in Bucharest and at Romexpo, social and therapeutic interventions in refugee centers in Bucharest, and online therapeutic interventions. If you are an organization working with Ukrainian refugees and in need of psychosocial support, you can submit a request via email to office@estuar.org.