In Zaporizhzhia, the third season of training educators and psychologists in the method of psychological assistance to children within the framework of the international project "Hibuki Therapy" has come to an end. The project is implemented by the NGO "Zaporizhzhia. Platform of Joint Actions" with the financial support of Metinvest Group and Zaporizhstal in cooperation with the Department of Education and Science of Zaporizhzhia City Council.
Zaporizhzhia psychologists, teachers and educators from schools and kindergartens, as well as psychologists from the public sector received certificates of successful completion of the training course within the framework of the Hibuki Therapy psychological assistance project and a therapeutic toy in the form of a dog, which is the main therapy tool.
The solemn event, which took place in early May 2025, had been preceded by a theoretical course on teaching the methodology and practical work with children in the form of individual meetings and group classes. Thanks to the financial support of Metinvest Group and Zaporizhstal, classes were held free of charge for 39 Zaporizhzhia educators and psychologists.
"Metinvest Company, Zaporizhstal and "Zaporizhzhia. Platform of Joint Actions" joined forces to implement this project to support the mental health of Zaporizhzhia children. We have received a lot of positive feedback from children and their parents, educators, as well as many new requests for training. Therefore, we plan to continue to support initiatives that form one of the most important skills of today – resilience – from an early age," says Iraisat MAGOMEDALIEVA, Head of Regional Development Department Area at Metinvest Group.
The graduates of the course were personally congratulated by the author of the method and the head of the international project "Hibuki Therapy" Dafna Sharon Maksimov.
"Let the certificates that our specialists receive become not just a document, but a symbol of the extremely important mission that we put into this project. Thank you to our participants who chose the path of light. I sincerely believe that every child who felt kindness and care in hibuki therapy classes will carry this feeling through the years as a guarantee that the war will never happen again," Dafna SHARON-MAKSIMOV emphasized.
The Hibuki Therapy project has already been implemented in 23 educational institutions in Zaporizhzhia, certified psychologists and educators provide assistance to about 200 children using this method.
As a reminder, in 2024, with the support of Metinvest and Zaporizhstal, training on hibuki therapy had been conducted for 35 educators and child psychologists in Zaporizhzhia, who use the knowledge gained in the educational process.
