Priyanka Chopra shared this picture. (courtesy: priyankachopra)

Priyanka Chopra, who has a long-standing association with UNICEF, the United Nations agency providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children across the world, is currently on a trip to Poland to meet Ukrainian refugees. As part of the trip to draw awareness about the thousands of men, women and children who have been displaced due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Priyanka has been sharing detailed posts about her various interactions. On Instagram, Priyanka has shared several pictures of her playing and painting with Ukrainian children. Some children, the images show, also had gifts and cards handmade for the multi-hyphenate. 

Along with lovely postcards, Priyanka Chopra shared a poignant note and said, “An aspect that is not often discussed but is very prevalent in a time of crisis is the psychological impact on these refugees. I met with so many women and children who are trying to cope with the horrors they have witnessed in this war. UNICEF responded in Poland and in the region by ensuring that teams of psychologists are available to help mothers and children at the Blue Dot centres, the Child Development centres, the Education Hubs and other touch points. One of the most effective tools in helping children regain a sense of normalcy is playful interaction…When children are driven from their homes by war, conflict, or displacement of any kind, access to nurturing relationships with parents, caregivers, and peers are critical buffers to the effects of violence, distress, and other adverse experiences.”

Speaking, in particular, about the children she met in Poland, Priyanka Chopra added, “The kids I met on this mission love working with art. Coffee beans, salts and regular household items are used for art therapy and sensitivity therapy. When they work with different materials, as well as paints and colours, the therapists are able to understand their emotions. In the beginning for example, the children would draw with very dark colours, and over time the colours got brighter. Another example is handmade dolls that I was gifted by Ukrainian children at each Programme I visited with UNICEF.  Each is unique and is believed to have the power of protection, which these children really need right now as the war is upending the lives and futures of the country’s 5.7 million school-aged children.”

See the complete post here:

In a previous post, this time a video, Priyanka Chopra is seen visiting multiple convention centres and interacting with refugees. Sharing the post, Priyanka said, “The invisible wounds of war are the ones we don’t usually see on the news. Yet, they were so evident to me today as I started day 1 of my UNICEF mission in Warsaw. 2/3 of Children from Ukraine have been displaced (internally and externally). This HUGE number is the devastating reality of war where 90% of the people crossing the border are women and children.”

Read the complete note here:

On the work front, Priyanka Chopra will be seen in a bunch of new projects such as It’s All Coming Back to Me and Citadel.