Two family-type orphanages from the Kharkiv region returned from a three-week rehabilitation trip in Austria. Vlada Yevseeva, head of the psychological service at hospital No. 16, who accompanied the families on the trip, summarized the traveling experiences of 14 youngsters.
“Two families participated in the trip. We had a very eventful program: every day there were some adventures and trips, and there were a lot of impressions for children. We saw so many wonderful and impressive things in Graz. At the end of each day we held assemblies in which children and psychologists communicated and exchanged impressions from the day,” the psychologist explains.
The children visited many interesting places. Some examples include the interactive architecture museum Frida&Fred and the famous Zotter chocolate factory, which had both a petting zoo and a rope park. They also saw a birds of prey show at Riegersburg Castle. Children visited the motivational estate museum of Arnold Schwarzenegger. Ultimately, the local band Karma Club visited the Ukrainians with a concert.
“We watched a film about the Zotter chocolate factory’s owner, who traveled the world looking for cocoa bean suppliers in Africa and South America, and what adventures he had at the time. There is a kind of highlight in the production: they add different unique flavors to chocolate; for example, we tasted chocolate with lime flavor. We were given a tour of three floors of the factory; everything could be tasted, starting with cane sugar and cocoa beans, from which chocolate is made, and ending with candies,” Vlada says.
Throughout the trip, psychologists Olga and Vlada worked with youngsters and observed their behavior.
“We observed children in real life and tracked how they reacted to different types of space, expressed themselves, and interacted with their parents. During the trip, we visited a lot of different spaces, both closed and open, and we observed children in various situations. It is crucial that psychologists accompany the children to different locations and are able to process the cases that occur immediately,” she adds.
In Graz, the children had the opportunity to talk with Franz and Matilda, the hospital clowns.
“At first, they showed a very fun, interactive program. Children laughed, rejoiced, and joined in. In the second part of the program, the clowns opened their funny suitcases for the children, so they could take whatever they wanted and try out different tricks together with the clowns. In the third part of the program, each child presented their magic trick in front of the audience. It was also a very powerful moment, when each child had their own moment of glory, attention, and love. This is important for all children, and for children from the family-type orphanages in particular,” emphasizes the specialist.
According to her, Franz, a former professional actor, has acrobatic abilities, so he assisted the children in performing some sort of acrobatic tricks: someone did a somersault, someone was lifted by him to the ceiling. Each child performed their own trick, recognizing their own body capabilities.
The trip was organized in such a way as to improve the children’s health; they breathed the mountain air and visited the pool, where active games were held.
“We saw how a boy whose shoulders were stiff and raised at the beginning of the journey began to move freely at the end; this is a very powerful marker because the child relaxed inside; he felt a safe space. This program is designed to ensure that children feel completely safe in every way: while they sleep, communicate, play in the yard, visit a museum, go hiking in the mountains, or visit various attractions,” Vlada emphasizes.
For several years, the Charitable Fund “Global 2000 for the Children of Ukraine” has run a “Holiday in Austria” program. Typically, the ”Global” team sent patients from Kharkiv Children’s Hospital No. 16 to a European country. This year, two family-type orphanages, whose children suffered from Russian aggression, also went to Austria. The children were accompanied by parents, educators, doctors, and psychologists.