SENSORY ROOM IN DERHACHI. NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN OF KHARKIV REGION
The first sensory room in the Kharkiv region for children with special educational needs and those in need of emotional support and development has been opened in Derhachi. A space like this one offers new opportunities for the development of every child.
DonateOn December 13, 2024, the team of our foundation, in cooperation with the Department of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports of the Dergachi City Council, opened the first sensory room in the Kharkiv region in Dergachi as part of the “Safe Ukrainian Childhood” initiative.
Over 220 children with special educational needs live in the front-line Dergachi community. Due to hostilities and stressful situations, children in the community need special support and care. The mental and emotional health of children in such conditions is not only a matter of a comfortable life, but also a guarantee of their educational development. The sensory room will help children receive professional correctional therapy, reduce their anxiety level and find inner peace, which in turn will allow them to cope with the traumas they have experienced. Until now, there was no space similar to that in the Kharkiv region, so this was an important step in supporting children. It is important that this space is equipped in the basement to ensure the safety of children.
Implementation
The sensory room was created in a previously built safe basement of one of the children’s spaces of the Dergachi community, where children already have the opportunity to be in comfortable conditions, protected from external threats. Educational programs for work in the room were developed by psychotherapists, speech therapists and teachers. The room is equipped in accordance with the recommendations of the specialists who will work there:
- light columns, a “Starry Sky” panel and a mirror with an infinity effect to reduce stress;
- tactile panels, toys and balancing boards for the development of sensory and motor skills;
- a “Squeezer” simulator, a rehabilitation tunnel and a hammock for emotional relief and improved concentration.
These tools will help children develop confidence, concentration and socialization, reduce psychological barriers and improve the learning and adaptation process of children with special educational needs and those who have suffered “invisible” war traumas.
The creation of this space is another step towards the recovery, education, and harmonious development of children during wartime. This is a place of care for the well-being of every little visitor.
