A mother of a 15-year-old girl turned to the psychologist at the “Girls. Children” Club in Berestyn. The teenager is diagnosed with sensorimotor alalia - a speech disorder in which a child has difficulty both understanding speech and producing theirs own. Because of this, the girl often feels “different”, compares herself to her peers, and worries that she cannot answer as easily in class or freely share her thoughts and emotions in conversations as others.
During the “Discover Your Interests” counseling session, Oleksandra discovered the areas of interest that sparked her sincere curiosity. On the same day, she attended her first lesson and not only joined but sewed not one, but two “pillow-sleepers” by herself.
This moment was a real turning point. She felt that she was able to create things that brought her joy and pride. And since then, she has been happy to participate in other creative activities in the Club.
She is no longer afraid of being “different” in the classroom. Here, she is on a par with her peers, confidently coping with tasks and seeing her results. She smiles and is happy, because suddenly it turns out that she can! She can do a lot of beautiful and valuable things with her own hands, with her heart. “It is difficult for children with sensorimotor alalia to express themselves in words, but they can ultimately show their uniqueness and strength through actions, handicrafts, and joint activities,” the psychologist says.
Today, this girl is an example of how support, a space without judgment, and the opportunity to be heard can help a child to believe in themselves again. A story that proves once again that every child has the strength to grow. The main thing is to give them a place and a little love.
Classes at the “Girls. Children” Club were held as part of the project “Growing Stronger: Building Resilience and Protection for Adolescents and Women in Ukraine Affected by the Conflict,” implemented by the NGO Girls in cooperation with Plan International.
