Wings

Active-duty soldiers and reservists are coping with complex post-traumatic experiences and difficulties processing their combat experiences, as well as challenges in returning to routine life in both their professional and family roles. Many struggle to find a stable foothold for coping with stress resulting from the war.

The act of writing and entering the world of children’s literature opens a window to optimistic and hopeful thinking, allowing participants to express their thoughts and emotions. This process can help in the structured processing of difficult memories, reduce their emotional intensity, and foster a deeper understanding of the impact of the experience. Moreover, expressive writing can empower individuals by enabling them to build a narrative around their experiences, which can be essential for finding meaning and strengthening psychological resilience.

Similarly, illustration and other forms of visual art offer a non-verbal means of expression, which is especially valuable when difficult or painful experiences are hard to put into words. The creative process itself can be calming and meditative in nature, helping to reduce stress and anxiety.

In essence, both writing and illustration serve as constructive channels for navigating the complex emotional landscapes that follow a significant period of reserve military service. Engaging in these practices promotes self-understanding, emotional regulation, and a pathway toward recovery.

We offer a children’s literature writing and illustration program for individuals coping with post-traumatic stress.

The program runs for six months, with one weekly meeting, and includes an opening seminar and a closing seminar with overnight stays in an environment designed to allow the mind and spirit to flourish.

The program consists of two groups—writers and illustrators. Some sessions are joint, while others are held separately with a focus on the professional worlds of writing or illustration. The opening seminar, closing seminar, and final session are held jointly by both groups. In addition, the program includes a “matching” session in which writers are paired with illustrators to work together in pairs on a shared book throughout the program—because, as Winnie the Pooh says, “it’s so much more friendly with two.”

Participants in the writing track are not required to have any prior professional background in writing or publishing books—only a desire to engage in the field and a willingness to learn and invest.

Engaging with imagination, color, and language—the world of children’s creativity—has the power to work wonders in a person’s inner world.

The first cohort will include 40 participants: 20 in the writing group and 20 in the illustration group.