Bread and Balance: Creative Therapy for Teachers in Wartime Ukraine
Teachers are the unsung heroes on the educational frontlines. Every day, they shape the future, and especially in the most difficult conditions of war. The constant stress, immense responsibility, the daily challenges and the pressure of adapting to new realities often lead to emotional burnout. In fact around 40 percent of teachers in Ukraine consider leaving their profession due to exhaustion. Recently, the teaching staff of Kyiv Specialized School No. 49 reached out to us for support. We heard their call and decided to act.
Therefore we are excited to announce the launch of our new pilot project — the “ART THERAPY WITH SOURDOUGH BREAD: Warm Family Traditions” workshop for teachers. On December 25, 2024, we organized a session of sourdough bread therapy for 40 teachers.
The workshop focused on three main areas: reducing stress, encouraging creativity, and improving emotional health. The therapists guided the teachers through the soothing process of baking sourdough bread. This unique method combines bread baking with therapeutic practices, offering a chance to exchange, restore emotional well-being combined with a culinary experience.
This might sound random: But baking bread activates all senses. It has to be manually moved, it has to rest and grow, it transforms and changes shape, scent and consistency. Bread as well symbolized warmth and unity during war times. And sourdough has deep roots in tradition.
After the session, each participant received a book on sourdough bread therapy to integrate this calming practice into their daily routines. And of course: bread. For all the participants this workshop was way more than just learning how to bake bread; it was about reconnecting with an ancient survival skill that can ground us in moments of crisis, reduce stress and provide us with an empowering skill.
We are incredibly grateful to our partners, “RTQ” (Refuse to Quit), for their significant financial support of this initiative. Their dedication proves that kindness knows no boundaries.
One of the teachers who participated in the workshop shared: “For all the teachers of Lyceum No. 49 in Kyiv, it was not only a culinary experience but true inspiration. Sourdough therapy is a powerful relaxation tool and transformation in these times.”
Through this project, we are proud to offer a form of support to those who shape the future of Ukraine’s children. Together, we can help them find strength while war is raging.