Within the framework of the ELI-TE project, Masoret Jewish community of traditional Judaism held several art therapy workshops during the Israeli festival in Kyiv on October 19. Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine and the persistent threat of Russian missile and drone attacks, the workshops took place in an underground shelter – an area that normally serves as a parking space but has now become a vital refuge for cultural and educational initiatives.

The psychological impact of living under constant threat profoundly affects communities across Ukraine. Feelings of anxiety, fear, and uncertainty, especially among children and teens, require new forms of support that connect emotional healing with identity and community. Art therapy offers such a bridge: it provides a safe way to externalize pain, transform it into creative expression, and reconnect individuals with shared cultural roots.

More than 150 participants joined the ELI-TE sessions, including specialists in informal education, teenagers, and their adult family members. Guided by ELI-TE-trained counsellors, the workshops intertwined Jewish symbols, traditions, and explanations of their meanings with expressive therapeutic techniques. This blend of cultural storytelling and art-based reflection created a space of resilience and collective learning.

During the festival, visitors also received ELI-TE handouts outlining the project’s goals and providing links to resources on informal education, designed and developed by the project’s partners.