For almost 2 years, some Farmak’s employees have been taking care of the servicemen undergoing rehabilitation in the clinic, with which the Zhebrivsky Family Charitable Foundation is implementing the Program “Rehabilitation of Patients with Severe Physical Challenges”.

Tetiana joined the volunteer team last summer. She responded to the offer to arrange creative workshops for patients. Read in the interview what happened next.

Tetiana, how did your volunteering at the clinic begin?

I don’t often use a laptop at work, but occasionally I need to use it. I saw in the corporate newsletter that the willing can hold workshops at the clinic for seriously wounded servicemen. Since I’ve been in the creative activity for a long time, I decided to give it a try.

What are you creating?

I have been doing decoupage for about 8 years. It started when my son and I were looking for a gift for his classmate. I support the idea that children should give each other things that they can make themselves. And we made a trinket box.

Then, my friends gave me a workshop on dreamcatcher* weaving. So, I offered this art for the patients at the clinic. After all, it is calming, it is not difficult, and ultimately you create a beautiful thing that you can take home or give as a gift.

How was the first workshop?

My colleagues told me beforehand that I should not expect all the guys to join in the first workshop. Yet, everything went smoothly and well. We told lots of jokes. Of course, some were more active, some less. 10 patients joined the workshop. A girl named Svitlana was with us. She was also undergoing rehabilitation at the clinic, we met at the first workshop, and we are still in touch.

There was one man, Ihor, who at first said he would not do anything, saying it was a girly thing to do, then he got so carried away that now he makes these dreamcatchers himself. I brought him materials, he made them and gave them to his nieces.

Why dreamcatchers?

Dreamcatchers are an Indian tradition. According to a legend, when something bad happens in the family, they would weave such catchers, weaving bones, stones, and feathers into the thing, and would hang it as a talisman at the entrance. The belief is that evil spirits would get entangled in the catcher and would not enter the house.

You mentioned Svitlana, who you met at the workshop. Please, tell us her story.

Svitlana had a hip disarticulation and also has problems with the other extremity. I noticed that she felt discomfort of rather being stared at than physical difficulty of walking. She would sit in the hospital within the four walls falling into depression. At first, she was reluctant to do anything at the workshop, but I gently “forced” her. We started to communicate more; and, at some point, I offered going to the museum together. During the walk, she even asked to film how she walks to send the video to her brothers-in-arms. I noticed that thanks to the communication and walks, she crossed some kind of internal line, the fear of unnecessary staring, she dared and now she is not ashamed to walk and to go out in public. Now she is in Philadelphia (USA), waiting for surgery.

If I feel that I was able to help at least one person in any way, that is already good.

The number of servicemen admitted to the clinic is increasing, their injuries are complex, there are many people with cognitive impairments. They all need help.

You also held a drawing workshop for the servicemen, did they like it?

Yes. It was stencil drawing. It’s not difficult, but it is an interesting activity. I also met other guys. Everyone had their own story.

In addition to the workshops, you also started visiting our defenders. How do you do it?

These are just friendly visits, communication. Sometimes the guys can’t always open up to their relatives or healthcare personnel, but they can to us, the volunteers. We would joke together, eat something delicious.

Once a man, Serhii, wanted meat dumplings. I cooked them at home and brought them to him. He was so happy that I even can’t describe this level of joy. It seems to be such a trivial thing because the guys definitely have good nutrition at the clinic. But it’s no longer about food, but about attention. These simple dumplings were very important to him.

There is a patient with a spinal disorder who I communicate with. He is wheelchaired, but he already has a plan of action. He plans to have renovations in the apartment so that he can live there comfortably. Another man, Oleh, has a facial injury. But he is well disposed.

The communication is a give and take relationship, where I take a lot. I admire the strength of spirit and resilience of our guys.

How does creativity help?

When an individual does brainwork all day, the person needs to do something physically to have a balance.

It distracts from problems, helps to calm down. Earlier, when I was nervous, I did a lot of cleaning. And then I started to indulge in creativity.

Drawing helps a lot, when you are sick at heart, you can splash it out in black paint. It is interesting to watch people in this process. For example, a person can draw everything dark, but still he will put something in a lighter paint, even if it is a dot. And vice versa. Because the reality is not completely black or white.

How should people in the rear get involved in helping?

Those who want and can should help. The war affected everyone. Not everyone has the opportunities, especially moral ones. Those who have the strength should help. Those who can’t should not hinder.

Why are you doing this, I mean why are you visiting guys?

These people gave the most valuable thing that everyone has – their health – for us. When a person loses some physical abilities, they suffer both morally and financially, as they cannot work.

And we all owe the military for being able to drink coffee here now and not sitting in basements.

And I want to pay a tribute. For some reason, I am doing this also because I have a son, he is 23. He wants to live in Ukraine, and I believe that if he ever needs help, someone will also respond and support him.

If we help each other at least a little, the world will become a better place to live in.

*A dreamcatcher is a protective amulet that is traditionally used to protect people from bad dreams.