In Poland, a Ukrainian refugee helps children recover from trauma through music

“This work is about reminding myself of who I am,” shares Oleana, a refugee from Mariupol, Ukraine, who is now a music therapy teacher at the TUTU Center in Rzeszów, Poland.

“I first came to TUTU to ask about volunteering, and then I was offered a job as an art therapist because of my background in music and working with children.”

The TUTU Center opened in May 2022 to help meet the needs of Ukrainian refugee children and their families who found safety in Rzeszów, the largest city in eastern Poland. The center offers psychosocial support, individual and group therapy, and activity-based therapy, including music and art therapy. TUTU is a safe space for both Ukrainian and Polish children. Programs are offered in Polish, Ukrainian and Russian. The name “TUTU” is a combination of the word “here” (“tu”) in both Ukrainian and Polish. 

TUTU works directly with local schools and partners with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to raise awareness about the issues refugee children face and help promote their inclusion in the classroom. TUTU’s work is indispensable to helping safeguard an entire generation of Ukrainian children from falling behind in their education. Despite great strides in 2023 to increase school enrollment rates of Ukrainian refugee children, in September 2024, 600,000 Ukrainian refugee school-age children still remained out of the classroom.

For refugee children like 9-year-old Artem, the programs at TUTU are an essential bridge between his school and the extra care he needs while making new friends, learning a new language and trying to make Rzeszów feel like home.  

Artem first started going to TUTU in 2023 to watch the group recitals of other children participating in the music therapy classes. He first picked up an interest in the piano in Ukraine from a neighbor who had a piano and would regularly play for him. In 2024, Artem began attending music therapy sessions and working with Oleana to improve his piano skills, and at the same time, helping him cope with the trauma of fleeing the war in Ukraine and trying to integrate into his new school community. 

“I also teach myself songs to play from watching YouTube videos,” Artem shares with a big smile. Although only formally playing piano for one year, Artem is already composing his own pieces. “Water and Mountains” is one of his first original compositions inspired by memories of his home in Ukraine.

Since starting at TUTU, Oleana has seen many children like Artem explore new interests, grow new passions and become happier. “I see children at first who are closed off, who don’t interact and then, after a few workshops, they are open and giving hugs,” Olena shares proudly.

Since opening its doors in May 2022, TUTU has provided care to more than 10,000 children.

Despite her uncertainty about her future and not knowing what will be left of Mariupol after the war ends, Oleana feels fortunate that she found TUTU and is helping refugee children like Artem.

“This job is happiness for me.” 

How can you help...

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, supports refugees who have been forced to flee violence, war and persecution. Our donors help refugees in their greatest time of need with shelter, food, water and medical care, and their support builds awareness for resettled refugees living in the U.S. With your help, more refugees will have the opportunity to build peaceful lives and give their families a bright future.