The Program "Healthy Lifestyle"

We continue to conduct training sessions in the four classes of schools in the city. For each group sessions are held once a week. During these meetings, the teens get to know each other and themselves. Each visit of our specialists students are waiting with impatience and great excitement. "What will be today?" they ask every time. The tutors note the high importance of these activities, as they see the changes that occur with school groups.

Also in one of the schools we held the quest "Funny Friends". During this quest, one of the main objectives was not so much to give a correct answer but to perform all the tasks as a team. The teens solved their tasks with enthusiasm and moved from station to station. The outcome of the event was the awarding not only the team that scored the highest number of points, but the team that has proved to be very friendly!

The "Kangaroo" Program

During the month 15 families attended the «Kangaroo" program.

One consultation was provided on psychological and educational assistance to parents. The program began attending a new child B. (4 years old).

In February, the program staff conducted the 9th forum for parents of autistic children on the topic of how to overcome tantrums in autistic children. In addition, for parents it was organized a session on a consolidation and relaxation. The staff also made a presentation how to increase a motivation in a child to do something.

This month our good friends clowns "Smehonosy" visited us, and not alone, but with the local TV. Kids had fun posing for the camera, played fun with clowns. They blew bubbles, with the help of colorful masks and costumes transformed into different characters, played different games. Thank you for such a wonderful holiday, dear clowns!  Children always waiting for you with impatience.

In February we traditionally celebrated Birthday of one of our children. Parents invited a fairy-tale characters. The celebration was very cheerful, bright, rich with games, dances, congratulations. In addition, children made their own gifts for birthdays.

This month we visited the pool with sauna, actively conducted individual sessions, produced crafts from natural materials. We continue weekly sessions with a music therapist, together rehearsing and preparing for the concert "World of Big Hearts."

Great joy was the purchasing of a new vacuum cleaner and an angular sand for the sessions. And the parents of one of our kids gave us a hanging chair, children enjoy it very much. Thank you for such a timely and necessary gifts.

In February, "Kangaroo" program provided all possible assistance to the volunteers: actively participate in group and individual sessions, walks, play games, activities and sports events. Many thanks for your help and involvement in our lives and in the lives of our kids.

The Program "School Mediation"

This month, it held a scheduled meeting with the teens from the School Mediation Centre, school # 5. The children enthusiastically shared the results of the past month. During this time, they have developed and printed booklets, business cards and badges, hung posters and wall newspapers. The mediators also were engaged in furnishing office for the meetings and conducted presentations for teachers and high-school students.

In the nearest future the mediators plan to conduct presentations on the topic "How to resolve conflicts."

Students’ Practicum

This month, the Center has hosted two students from Psychology Program and eight students from Social Pedagogy Program from Zaporizhzhya National University. Becoming part of a team, guys are actively helping us in our work. They do outdoor activities with children, methodical work, participation in the sessions for high school students, work with the elderly at the Mennonite Family Centre and actively participte in the preparation for integrative concert "World of Big Hearts". We orient them to learn something from us and to help us. Guys successfully perform all their assigned cases, and every day work on improvement of their professional skills. Practice will last until March 19, 2016.

Also this month, we are pleased to have 15 students of Economics and Law College (major in Social Work). Once a week, the students participate in training sessions, actively assist in the preparation of teaching materials for the "Kangaroo" program. This work allows students to find their way in the profession and better understand what important skills they should develop.

Work with Specialists of Social Sphere

Work with the experts from Social work agencies continues in the framework of the Balint group.

During the sessions we offered them a new form of work - to do industrial gymnastics with their social workers. These kinds of activities contribute to relieving stress and improving mood. A number of colleagues have recorded the gymnastics and will start to do it at their workplaces. During the meeting it was discussed the outcomes of the previous cases and was done the analyze of a new one. From this month, we decided to record an interview with each participants, asking them to evaluate the work of the Balint group.

Also this month's "Florence" Center initiated the development  of a new Balint group for employees of state and public organizations working in the field of HIV / AIDS. The first meeting was held on February 10th and was lead by a psychologist from Clinic Friendly to Youth.

This month, our experts delivered a lecture on the reform of higher education for students of the Faculty of History of Zaporizhzhya National University. The students showed interest in the issues of students' motivation to learn, as well as the methods of anti-corruption in universities.