Healing Smiles for Children with Cancer

In September 25, in cooperation with some Japanese-Ukrainian cultural organization, we made art-therapy project for children with cancer, in frames of our “Healing smiles for children with cancer” project. Delegation of 4 students from Japan that came to Ukraine for few days in frames of study tour, and 4 students from Ukraine that study Japanese language, together with 3 our volunteers, visited children department of the National Institute of cancer.

Larisa Lavrenuk, great supporter of our project, the head of charitable foundation to help children with cancer, welcomed our delegation and made the excursion for them by the department. Then all children who can walk were invited to the corridor hall – the place where our art-therapy lessons are usually held. Foreign volunteers got acquainted with children and showed small entertainment to them, they sang songs for them and presented gifts. Then volunteers were making origami together with children. Then volunteers divided by pairs: Japanese student and Ukrainian student together – and went ward by ward to make origami with those children who are on a drip or are difficult to walk.  

Children said that for the first time they saw so many foreigners at once, they didn’t expect it and were really excited. Foreign students also were very much inspired by the project; they said it was their best experience during their visit in Ukraine. 

In October the children department of the National Institute of cancer got closed for quarantine, so we couldn’t visit them. But after the quarantine was over we made two art-therapy workshops in November 11 and November 25.

            Our plan for December is to prepare New Year celebration for children, holding nice entertainment and presenting art-therapy sets as gifts for them. 2 art-therapy workshops we are going to hold in December 16 and December 23 will be also dated to New Year topic: we will make New Year postcards with children and Christmas decorations. In the end of December we also are planning to hold charity Christmas bazaar to collect money to buy some medical equipment for the department.  

We are very grateful to our donors, to you who support financially our project. Your donations will enable us to organize good New Year celebration for children and present art-therapy sets for them: small canvases for applications, drawing and embroidery sets. Next time we will be glad to give report to you on our exciting New Year art-therapy!

Last three summer months we held few origami and kirigami lessons for small patients of Institute of cancer children department. There are already children that are waiting for us and following us ward by ward while we are holding lesson for those who are in a drip and can't move. In the end of September some our partner organization will accept students delegation from Japan. They were happy to ask us if they can include project for children with cancer in their visit program. So September 25 we will have big art-therapy workshop with the participation of about 10 volunteers at once! Also we have been preparing for art festival in November as one of the most important and biggest parts of our project.

Links:

• Information on our website