United Together: art therapy for children's psychological support
Thursday, July 30, 2026
|
Shakhtar Social and The Sir Bobby Charlton Foundation provide children with psychological support through art therapy sessions as part of the United Together project
Through the joint United Together project, Shakhtar Social and The Sir Bobby Charlton Foundation place special emphasis on supporting children from Ukraine's frontline regions. In addition to regular football training, participants in the initiative have had the opportunity to take part in a psychological support programme. While the first year of the project focused mainly on group sessions with a psychologist aimed at providing emotional support for boys and girls living through the war, the emphasis later shifted to creative practices. Art therapy helps children better understand their emotions, express their feelings in a safe way, find inner strength and feel supported.
War takes away children's control over the outside world, while art therapy activities help them regain control, at least over themselves. Instead of deep psychological trauma, they gain a unique experience of overcoming crisis, making them stronger, more empathetic and better able to adapt to challenges
Nataliia Vdova, psychologist for the United Together project in Lozova:
– Psychological support for children in Ukraine today is a basic need and the foundation of future resilience. The implementation of the project demonstrates that systematic psychosocial support is not an additional service but a basic necessity during wartime: it helps children regain a sense of control, restores their ability to learn and prevents the development of prolonged stress. War takes away children's control over the outside world, while art therapy activities help them regain control, at least over themselves. Instead of deep psychological trauma, they gain a unique experience of overcoming crisis, making them stronger, more empathetic and better able to adapt to challenges.
Art therapy has created a space where children can freely express themselves through creativity, build confidence in their own abilities, interact with their peers and strengthen their emotional tolerance. This is an important part of the psychological well-being of children who live through the realities of the full-scale war every day.
– Psychological support for children in Ukraine today is a basic need and the foundation of future resilience. The implementation of the project demonstrates that systematic psychosocial support is not an additional service but a basic necessity during wartime: it helps children regain a sense of control, restores their ability to learn and prevents the development of prolonged stress. War takes away children's control over the outside world, while art therapy activities help them regain control, at least over themselves. Instead of deep psychological trauma, they gain a unique experience of overcoming crisis, making them stronger, more empathetic and better able to adapt to challenges.
Art therapy has created a space where children can freely express themselves through creativity, build confidence in their own abilities, interact with their peers and strengthen their emotional tolerance. This is an important part of the psychological well-being of children who live through the realities of the full-scale war every day.
The fighting around our city has intensified somewhat, so having the opportunity to play football and take part in sessions like these is very important. I honestly didn't think that a simple creative activity could be so interesting and bring us together
Danylo Dzerkalii, 11 years old, participant in the United Together project in Lozova:
– These sessions are a great way to take our minds off things. The fighting around our city has intensified somewhat, so having the opportunity to play football and take part in sessions like these is very important. I honestly didn't think that a simple creative activity could be so interesting and bring us together.
In addition to football training and psychological support, the project also included the refurbishment of shelters and other initiatives to create a safe environment for children.
The United Together project by Shakhtar Social and The Sir Bobby Charlton Foundation was launched in 2024 in Lozova (Kharkiv Oblast), Zaporizhzhia and Shakhtarske (Dnipropetrovsk Oblast). More than 200 boys and girls aged 7 to 12 have joined the regular football training sessions.
– These sessions are a great way to take our minds off things. The fighting around our city has intensified somewhat, so having the opportunity to play football and take part in sessions like these is very important. I honestly didn't think that a simple creative activity could be so interesting and bring us together.
In addition to football training and psychological support, the project also included the refurbishment of shelters and other initiatives to create a safe environment for children.
The United Together project by Shakhtar Social and The Sir Bobby Charlton Foundation was launched in 2024 in Lozova (Kharkiv Oblast), Zaporizhzhia and Shakhtarske (Dnipropetrovsk Oblast). More than 200 boys and girls aged 7 to 12 have joined the regular football training sessions.
Start Slideshow
