Helping Hands Exhibit

Sunday, November 17 The Novi Community will host an art exhibit, featuring hand drawn portraits made by children living in several of war-torn cities of Ukraine. Their work will be on display at the
La Ventura Event Center
2316 South El Camino Real
San Clemente, California
The doors will open at 4:00 pm and will run for four hours. There is no admission fee.

Children living in warzones are deprived of basic needs such as safety, education, and nutrition that are required for positive development. They are also exposed to violence, loss, displacement, and all the disturbances created by war. These factors often lead to severe emotional trauma, mental development, social disorders, and skills necessary to thrive throughout their lives and into adulthood.

In the chaos of violence, where young lives are fractured and isolated, Novi reconnects, heals, and uplifts. Supported by care and compassion, these children don’t just survive—they learn, grow, and rediscover joy. Novi equips them to form and maintain friendships and build their futures. We provide specialized training and tools to volunteers, social workers, teachers, therapists, and others who work with children in these high-stress environments. All Novi interventions are based on regional needs and are initiated through local professionals and caregivers. We cooperate with community organizations and institutions, obligating ourselves to the highest ethical standards.

Helping Hands is a play-oriented group activity that helps young children develop emotional awareness and healthy ways to cope with their feelings. Children begin by drawing a life-sized self-portrait and then are led to identify strong emotions, where they are felt on their bodies, and what helps them to cope with these feelings. These impressions are expressed artistically in their drawings. The intervention is adaptable for special needs and can be used in multiple sessions, with a focus on regulation, triggers, coping, and processing. In brief, we are working to preserve the normal childhood life experiences. This activity is just one part of a program that includes play, games, and lots of fun.

We invite you to visit the exhibit and witness the effectiveness of Helping Hands in the lives of the children whose artwork will be on display.

For more information on The Novi Community, please visit novi.ngo