WELL-U | Masha Pleshakova

Illustrations for poetri book THE ETYMOLOGY OF YOU AND ME

This anthology is for word lovers, romantic lovers, and lovers of the moon. For anyone interested in self-expansion, exploration of existence, and the universe itself, may you find both solace and joy in the linguistic play painted across these pages written in honor of my/your/our journey in the elucidation of the human experience as spiritual beings.

Well-U Project
2024

In honor of World Mental Health Day, the WELL-U project, funded by the European Union HADEA, launched a powerful social media campaign aimed at raising awareness of mental health issues. The campaign is particularly focused on Ukrainians affected by the war, as well as other communities facing similar struggles. Through meaningful community engagement and culturally tailored content, this campaign seeks to break down stigma and promote mental health care for all. As part of this initiative, I created a series of five illustrations to support and visually enhance the project.

All of my illustrations were presented in three languages: English, Italian, and Ukrainian,

at the Well-U Final Conference in Brussels

The Well-U Final Conference, held on September 24, 2024, in Brussels, brought together experts to discuss mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) for displaced individuals in Europe. Organized by SOS Children’s Villages Italy and SOS Children’s Villages International, the event focused on supporting displaced populations, including those from Ukraine, in Italy, Romania, Hungary, and Greece.

I also designed an illustration for a Policy Paper Well-U Project's Key Policy Recommendations for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in the EU

I’d like to share some insights into my illustration process here:

First, I come up with an idea and create a mood board with references that visually represent it;
Next, I create several sketches and review them with the supervisor for approval;
After a series of revisions and approvals, I move on to the final version of the illustration, coordinating each stage with the client