When School Ends, Art Therapy Begins
For Ukrainian refugee children in Warsaw, summer break can feel isolating. Many families can’t afford vacations. Parents work long hours. Friendships formed at school scatter across the city. The rhythm and safety of school disappears.
That’s why, this summer, Mission for Ukraine kept art therapy classes running every single day.
Under the guidance of Lilia Stadnik, Leszek and Lyudmyla Galchun, Ukrainian children gathered daily at the Wola Center and POLIN Museum for painting, woodworking, embroidery, sewing and crafts. Hot glue guns, saws, drills and wood-burning pens were in constant use—and, remarkably, no injuries were reported all summer.
More Than Just Fun
On the surface, it looks like creative play. Children painting, carving wood, stitching fabric. But these classes are doing something much deeper.
For children who’ve lived through war, displacement and upheaval, art therapy offers:
- A sense of control – they choose colours, shapes, designs
Mastery and confidence – learning to use tools safely, creating something tangible Community and belonging – working alongside other Ukrainian children who understand their experience Expression without words – processing trauma through creativity, not language
As one teacher put it: “Normal education, social and family life for Ukrainian children has been turned upside down since COVID arrived in 2020 and Russia invaded in 2022. Art therapy helps restore some of what was lost.”
A Summer Exhibition: “The World Belongs to You”
One of the most moving projects this summer was a women’s art therapy class led by Lilia. A dozen Ukrainian women worked together for weeks on a collaborative tapestry called “The World Belongs to You.”
The tapestry was made of memories—old family photos, fabric scraps, embroidered details—woven together into a single, powerful piece. Each woman contributed pieces of her past: homes left behind, family members lost or separated, life before the war.
The exhibition was held in Warsaw, and the women stood together to present their work and speak about their experience. It was an act of reclaiming their stories. An act of resistance against forgetting.
Lyudmyla’s Summer Programme
While Lilia and Leszek taught at Wola Center, Lyudmyla ran her own summer programme at three Ukrainian schools across Warsaw. Children came for arts and crafts five days a week. They made flowers for their teachers on Teachers’ Day. They painted, sculpted and laughed.
Lyudmyla also organised a weekend rehabilitation break for Ukrainian families—a day trip near Warsaw that ended with kayaking and a picnic by the river. For many children, it was their first time in a kayak. For parents, it was a rare moment to breathe.
The Joy of Creating—and the Presence of Simon the Dog
This summer, Lilia began bringing her mother’s dog, Simon, to art therapy classes. The children adore him.
Why does this matter? Many Ukrainian refugee families cannot afford pets. Apartment leases forbid them, or landlords charge higher rent. Children who grew up with animals—dogs, cats, farm animals—now live without that connection.
Simon’s presence is another form of therapy. The children take turns petting him, playing with him, drawing him. It’s a small but meaningful way to keep their connection to animals alive.
LifeSong Orphans Visit Wola Center
One of the highlights of the summer was a visit from Ukrainian orphans cared for by LifeSong, a US charity. The children came to the Wola Center for a woodworking and carpentry class with Leszek.
The photos tell the story: children beaming with pride as they hold up wooden creations. Laughter. Focus. Joy. For these children—who’ve lost so much—an afternoon of building something with their own hands was a gift.
Looking Ahead
As summer ends and school begins again, art therapy classes will continue. Lilia, Leszek and Lyudmyla will return to their regular schedules at Love Does School, Wola Center and POLIN Museum.
But this summer proved something crucial: art therapy isn’t a luxury. It’s essential. When children have safe, creative spaces to express themselves, they heal. They grow. They remember how to be kids.