Horses Heal: Emotional Recovery for Children
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Victory Center is a non-profit organization specializing in psycho-emotional recovery for veterans and war-affected children through hippotherapy and animal therapy. Our team has experience implementing programs focused on post-rehabilitation adaptation and psychological support using mindfulness and decompression methods. We've already helped many children and families find peace and joy in life.
We're initiating the "Horses Heal: Emotional Recovery for Children" project because we believe war-affected children deserve help and support. Many have experienced terrible moments leaving deep psychological scars. We want them to feel they're not alone in their struggle. Equine therapy can be that important tool helping children open up, restore trust, and find peace. Our motivation is seeing these children laugh, play, and enjoy life again, feeling safe.
Through this project implementation, we aim to achieve several important changes:
- Emotional healing: Enhancing children's psychological resilience through therapeutic interventions promoting emotional regulation and self-awareness.
- Connection with nature: Building feelings of safety and trust through interaction with horses and nature.
- Social interaction: Creating a supportive environment where children can freely express themselves and build positive relationships with peers and mentors.
Over three months, we plan working with three children's groups (6-8 people) twice monthly, 5 hours per session. A total of 18-24 children (aged 6-12) will receive this unique experience. Main activities include:
- Professional-guided horse interaction, including animal care workshops.
- Reading, drawing, writing, and music therapies in nature promoting emotional expression and relaxation.
- Encouraging physical activity and social interaction.
- Arts and crafts activities for self-expression and stress relief.
- Reflective exercises for easier emotional processing and peer support.
The program's closing event will occur on the last Saturday of the third month, where we'll celebrate children's achievements and demonstrate the program's impact to stakeholders.
