Hello everyone!)
On September 29, 2024, at the SmartCommunity OLC in the village of Pokotylivka, the High Hub Youth Center hosted fun and creative events:
- Psychological group fairy tale therapy “Magical Sweet.”
- Workshop “Puppet Therapy: The Fairy Tale of My Life.”
The event began with introductions, followed by the now-traditional musical warm-up: everyone actively mimicked modern moves from the screen characters.
During the group therapy, the youth were introduced to the concept of “fairy tale therapy,” learning about the types of fairy tales and the functions they serve in therapy for both children and adults. Afterward, each participant anonymously wrote down the title of their favorite fairy tale and passed it to the psychologist, who read and analyzed each tale as a life script.
The takeaway from the session was that it’s important to believe in fairy tales, but also to take personal action in life.
At the workshop, participants immersed themselves in the creative world of puppet theater: they learned its history, what the first puppets were like, discussed types of modern puppets, and became familiar with the basic techniques of puppet manipulation behind the screen. Each participant received a role in a fairy tale. As in a real theater, there was a rehearsal first, followed by the premiere performance. The puppet show ended with shared applause and a screening of the recorded performance.
At the end of the event, there was a reflection session where participants actively shared their impressions.
Polina, 13 years old: “Today I learned how the script of your favorite fairy tale relates to your life and why you shouldn’t rely on charming princes.”
Liza, 14 years old: “I never imagined how fun it would be to perform in a puppet theater—it’s simply magical. The puppet comes alive on your hand and continues living its own life.”
The project is implemented by the NGO “Association of Youth Leaders of Ukraine” and the NGO Youth Platform within the framework of the USAID Ukraine – USAID Ukraine’s “Dream and Act” program, carried out by IREX in Ukraine.
With support “Association of Youth Leaders of Ukraine”
