The "Child Doctor" project for migrant children

On March 29, the team of the public education and volunteering sector of the Student Government of KhNMU visited children and teenagers who lost their homes and relatives, migrant children and children from low-income families who are temporarily located due to Russian aggression in Dormitory No. 2 of the National Pharmaceutical University (NPU), and held the “Happy Consilium” event for them as part of the “Little Doctor” project.

The event included educational and cognitive and psychological and therapeutic parts. The purpose of the event was to introduce children and hold classes with the Hibuki toy, which is used as a therapeutic tool to overcome psychological injuries and worries of a child, as well as to familiarize children with the concept of vitamins: to explain the effect of vitamins on the body, the reasons why they should be used and in which products food they contain.

The event was held in the form of a Medical Council, when each child had the opportunity to try on the role of a doctor and tell others about his experience and knowledge. Children really liked this form of communication when they could share their thoughts and learn new things from medical students. After getting to know each other, the students asked the children, like their fellow doctors, what vitamins they know, what they contain, and how they affect the human body. The participants quickly and easily coped with this task, remembered which food products contain vitamin K, A, B12 and D.

Already in the second part, the medical students introduced the children to the dog Hibuki and performed a small creative task with the furry friend. The purpose of this practice was to create “Hibukiminka”, that is, a vitamin from Hibuki, which would help the child acquire one or another quality, superpower, physical abilities, or even make friends. This art therapy helped the children discover their secret desires, which they shared with the students. Even teenagers, who are usually skeptical of such games, overcame their insecurities and shyness and were very satisfied.

At the end, the children received useful gifts – apples, as a good example of an element of healthy nutrition and a source of vitamin C and other equally important micro- and macroelements.

All children and teenagers were satisfied and happy. They are still waiting for a meeting with the students of KhNMU, and the medical volunteers definitely plan to visit them and help in the future!