Metinvest Group has joined a project launched by Olympic medallist and volunteer Denys Sylantyev. The Ukrainian athlete’s initiative aims to provide swimming classes for children from displaced families in Zaporizhzhia to help them overcome their psychological trauma.
Zaporizhzhia is truly a city of shelter. Residents of the occupied territories, particularly Mariupol and southern Ukraine, come here, fleeing the war. They usually carry with them some painful memories. As people settle down and look for work, they do not have time to recover from their experiences, so their psychological traumas are overlooked. Mental health needs to be addressed urgently, though.
Children are the most sensitive to the traumatic effects of war. They perceive loss and uncertainly intensively, leaving them feeling afraid and anxious. The disruption of life’s daily routines psychologically traumatises children both during and after hostilities or occupation. To overcome this condition, kids must receive comprehensive support, both from their loved ones and from specialists in the field.
EXPERT OPINION
Specialists believe that displaced children have psycho-emotional polytrauma. It consists of traumatic experiences from the war, changes in location and living conditions, and a lack of understanding of what their future holds.
Denys Sylantyev’s Physical Rehabilitation Through Swimming project focuses on children who have mental polytrauma. The Olympic athlete is organising classes on the premises of the Spartak swimming pool to help displaced children adapt through physical activity, learning new things, positive emotions and useful activities.
“The project focuses on the physical and psychological rehabilitation of children evacuated from the temporarily occupied territories or areas of active hostilities. Water is a wonderful way to relieve stress and deal with children’s worries. We expect them to learn how to swim, get healthy, and get rid of stress here. Classes will be conducted in compliance with martial law safety standards and requirements. Our initiative will be supported by partners, in particular Metinvest,” said Denys SYLANTYEV, “The project will last for two months. We expect each participant to attend 16 classes and learn 2-3 swimming strokes during this time. My first coach, Serhiy Viktorovych Pronyayev, will teach the children. He is very experienced in this field.”
SWIMMING BENEFITS
Pool exercises are a unique aerobic workout combining the relaxing effects of water and deep breathing. During swimming, muscle activity increases the levels of endorphins, commonly known as ‘happy hormones’, in the bloodstream. This reduces anxiety, calms the nerves and improves cardiovascular function. Swimming is also an excellent way to normalise sleep.
The project is tentatively expected to last three months. During this time, 100 children will receive help. The project is funded by Metinvest. The Group will provide UAH235,000 to support rehabilitation through swimming. The Denys Sylantyev Swimming Club, Zaporizhzhia Regional State Administration and “I Am Mariupol” assistance centres for displaced persons have also joined this important initiative as partners.
“Thousands of people have taken shelter in Zaporizhzhia since the outbreak of the war. These are mostly families with children. Our goal is to make them feel safe and comfortable, as well as help them to find work and receive social services. Adults stay busy with their routine tasks, and this helps them get back to normal life quicker. For children, however, it takes longer to recover from the stress. To help them overcome the effects of the psychological trauma, Rinat Akhmetov’s Metinvest Group has donated funds to implement Denys Sylantyev’s project. Rehabilitation through swimming is indeed an effective and pleasant way to improve one’s psychological and emotional condition,” said Zaporizhstal General Director Oleksandr MYRONENKO.
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