Vision board provides learning for Ukranian refugees in this heart-warming story.
Vision board provides learning
If we’re feeling let down by the cost of living crises and not being able to celebrate Christmas in the usual way, let’s remember our Ukranian friends and other refugees in this heart warming story.
A friend of mine, a children’s book publisher by trade, is informally volunteering to teach English to a group of Ukranian women. It takes place in her Oxford village where locals are hosting refugees. Their guests are older women, separated by war from their country and loved ones. Able to speak Ukranian and Russian – but not English. Imagine how hard it is to read/write English for those who are only used to the Cyrillic script. I was most inspired by what she was doing and wondered if I could help in any way.
“I don’t like Putin”
Ann gave me a funny yet poignant example of how it goes. She was teaching them the difference between I like xyz and I don’t like xyz, when one woman piped up. “I like my garden. And I don’t like Putin.” Another time Ann discovered there are 2 different, single words for blue in the Ukranian language. Intriguing.
I suggested to Ann that she offer them the chance to make a vision board. They wouldn’t be able to follow my instructions, so I gave Ann the art materials and let her get on with it since she knows my workshop well.
She reported back the first vision boarding session was very successful.
“There was lots of chat in their own language. In itself this is a good thing because, a few weeks’ ago, these women had never met before. This event allowed them to get to know one another further.
“Once the boards were made we came together for each person to talk about them. They spoke in English where possible and learnt new words in the process. In terms of language we particularly got lots out of learning the different parts of the face and body.
The russian word for garden is pronounced ‘sad’
“We also discovered how important trees and gardens are to us. The Russian word for garden is unbelievably pronounced ‘sad’. However the value of nature as a universal healing phenomenon is evident from the images they chose and what they talk about.
“The vision board is a fantastic way of teaching them colours and the seasons and we’ll continue to get a lot of mileage from it.”
Get in touch
Get in touch
If you’re working or voluteering where a vision board could lift spirits, please do let me know.
If it could make the difference between them living through an entirely sad moment to experiencing a break in the clouds – and you think I could be of help – please do get in touch.