What is the TUTU Center?

In May of 2022, we launched the opening of the TUTU Psychophysical Development Center, also known as the TUTU Center. It is located in an accessible part of Rzeszow, Poland. It provides a safe space for integration and psychophysical therapy for children, teens, and adults – majority of whom are Ukrainian refugees. The services at the Center are provided for free thanks to funding provided by Project HOPE. On average, the Center serves around 500 beneficiaries and provides around 1300 services a month. 

What We Do

Our main objective is to improve the social, professional, and personal lives of as many refugees and local residents as possible. We want to help families get the support they need in order to function independently in society and have a healthy and positive outlook on their future. 

We offer a range of free activities and therapy tailored to fit the needs of the people that come to the TUTU Center. Dealing with emotions can be difficult for children, teens, and also for adults. Many have trouble understanding where their emotions stem from and how to control them better. At the Center we have 8 specialists (6 Ukrainian, 2 Polish) that are available to help provide guidance and therapy to those in need. We offer a variety of techniques; art therapy, light therapy, music therapy, relaxation classes, group therapy, and individual therapy. These various forms of art help individuals release tension and work through trauma. For example, we have light therapy room that is designed to provide a calming atmosphere with interactive lights that can help an individual relax and reset. We also have a play room for children with a rock wall, climbing ropes, and a variety of games picked out that encourage interactions with other children. The staff is there to assist the children when needed. If there are conflicts or signs of distress in children, the specialist can step in and provide their expertise on handling those situations. 

The work that we do at the TUTU Center also goes beyond our walls. We want everyone that comes to our Center to be able to take the skills they have learned there back home with them and use them for years to come. Our team of qualified and experienced bilingual staff is there to provide different techniques everyone can use to deal with stress, depression, and anxiety. They help us understand our emotions; the difference in emotions, why we have them, and how to manage them.

We are always looking for new ways we can help the people that come to the TUTU Center. Many people that come to our Center have suffered great losses. The war in Ukraine has had a devastating effect on the lives of many people both young and old. We are working hard to help these people because we know that this is a problem that cannot and should not be ignored. We use the knowledge and experience we have gained over the years to help as many people as we can.

Financing the Activities of the TUTU Psychophysical Development Center

The work we do at the TUTU Center is possible thanks to the financial support of Project HOPE. Project HOPE is an organization that works in five main areas: disasters and health crises; infectious diseases; noncommunicable diseases; maternal, neonatal and child health; and health policy. The work they do has transformed the health and well-being of people around the world. From November to December 2023: Project financially supported by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, as part of the grant program of the Foundation “We Give Children Strength”