Creative Workshop and Tea Ceremony for Women from Ukraine

On September 17, “Women’s Initiatives” held another cozy gathering in Bendery dedicated to psychological support, resource restoration, and self-care. A workshop titled “The Recipe for a Good Day” was held for women who are refugees from Ukraine.

The main goal of the event was to create a safe and supportive space where participants could reduce their daily stress, take their minds off anxious thoughts, and replenish their psychological resources through creativity and heartfelt conversation.

In the first part of the session, participants experimented with words. Using pre-written poetic lines, individual phrases, and words, the women selected precisely those that resonated with them in that moment. By rearranging and combining them, the participants created their own short, personal texts, metaphorical messages, and “formulas” for a good day.

Together with a psychologist, the participants explored the elements that make up inner warmth and resilience. Their poetic “recipes” included silence, light, nature, gentle movement, joy, and personal details that were missing from their daily lives.

The creative portion concluded with aromatherapy and a tea ceremony. Each participant tried her hand at being a tea blender: by mixing dried herbs, flowers, fruits, and spices, the women created their own signature tea blends, perfectly suited to their mood and the vision they had created for their day.

The creative workshop demonstrated how simple practices—playing with words, working with scents, tactile experiences, and the tea ritual—can gently help reduce emotional tension. Without needing to be professional writers or artists, the participants were able to discover new sources of inspiration within themselves, feel the support of the group, and take home not only their signature tea but also a personal sense of harmony.

We thank our partners at the “Yakhont” Training Center for providing the venue for the event.

The event was organized by the non-profit organization “Women’s Initiatives” with the support of the International Organization for Migration.