Families in Zaporizhzhia came together for an art therapy masterclass at the Oplich Hub community centre.
The Oplich Hub community centre held a family art therapy masterclass themed around the warmth of family relationships, support, and shared creative expression. Parents and children created handprint paintings together, engaged in conversation, painted, and spent time together in a creative setting.
"Today we will talk about warmth, care, and family connections. We will recall what it feels like to touch each other’s hands with tenderness and love," said Natalia PODKOVYROVA, social educator at the Oplich Hub community centre, opening the masterclass session.
Participants were provided with canvases, paints, brushes, stickers, and other materials for their artworks. The masterclass centred on creating a shared family painting ade with colourful handprints.
Natalia said: "Let’s create a shared artwork with handprints, bringing together the handprints of both parents and children. Each person will decorate the picture in their own way. One can write words of love, support and encouragement. One can add stickers and smileys. We give people space to express themselves freely."
Families threw themselves into the creative process, painting their palms in bright colours and pressing them onto the canvases.
Among those taking part in the masterclass were Nadiia and her daughter Oleksandra Maslikova, who have been attending Oplich Hub sessions for nearly a year. They say the sessions have had a positive effect on the child's emotional wellbeing.
Nadiia and Oleksandra MASLIKOV shared their impressions:
"Since my daughter started interacting with Natalia, she has become calmer. She likes it very much here because there are many different activities, but she enjoys painting the most."
Nadiia and Oleksandra MASLIKOV shared their impressions:
"Since my daughter started interacting with Natalia, she has become calmer. She likes it very much here because there are many different activities, but she enjoys painting the most."
Oleksandra shared that the creative sessions have helped her not only find motivation but also follow through on her artistic work and bring it to completion.
"I enjoy painting most of all, because there is always someone nearby - someone to talk to, share experiences with, and receive encouragement from. These sessions gave me motivation. Before, I would start a painting and not finish it. Now I complete my works, even at home."
As noted by Nataliia Podkovyrova, social educator at the Oplіch Hub, this was the first time a family art therapy workshop in this format had been held at the community centre. Its main objective is to help families engage more with one another, slow down, and spend time together.
"Life moves at such a frantic pace these days that we often don’t have a moment to pause. This art therapy masterclass for families helps parents and children slow down, interact in a meaningful way, and spend quality time together. It is worth reminding, though, that there are many creative activities where family members can grow closer and perhaps better understand one another through touch, shape, colour, and shared interaction," said Natalia Podkovyrova.
The centre reports that masterclasses have proven very popular. In 2025 alone, one thousand people attended.
The Oplіch Hub was established by the UN Global Compact in Ukraine with the support of Metinvest Group's humanitarian initiative "Saving Lives" and Zaporizhstal Iron and Steel Works. All sessions and activities for visitors are conducted free of charge and in full confidentiality.
