The projects “Ukraine Sees with the Heart” and “Ukraine Hears with the Heart” were developed by specialists from the Ecopark’s Center for Psychosocial Rehabilitation to achieve the greatest possible therapeutic effect for these groups of Ukrainians — people for whom navigating the world, especially during wartime, is significantly more difficult.
Animal-assisted therapy, involving direct tactile interaction with animals from the contact group, plays an important role within the framework of psychotherapeutic sessions. According to the program’s authors, such interaction not only lifts the mood and enhances perception of the surrounding world, but also has an overall positive effect on psychological well-being — helping with adaptation and reducing fear of the unknown.
The Feldman Ecopark Center for Psychosocial Rehabilitation has existed since 2013, and from the very beginning, working with people with visual and hearing impairments has been among its priority areas. For many years, rehabilitation sessions at the Ecopark have been attended by patients from specialized boarding institutions for children and adults with such impairments — and they have consistently noted the positive impact of these sessions.
The recently resumed sessions within the projects “Ukraine Sees with the Heart” and “Ukraine Hears with the Heart” have sparked considerable interest among both adults and children with visual and hearing impairments. As a result, Feldman Ecopark is seeking support from Ukrainian and international partners to scale up these initiatives and expand the opportunities to involve as many participants as possible.
