With your help, we were able to support 1424 adults and children in April. Last month, our team performed the following:
- conducted more than 540 individual psychological sessions with children and parents;
- organized nearly 320 group psychological and psychosocial sessions;
- assisted in the rehabilitation of 28 children with disabilities and autism spectrum disorder;
- conducted 13 training sessions for teachers.
We would like to share the most interesting events, emotional meetings and touching stories with you. Read our digest and come to our branches!
Lviv branch
“We have fresh spring flowers in a vase at our branch for the whole month. However, they are not brought by us, but by our grateful clients. One woman brought a bouquet of daffodils and gave each employee and visitor of the branch a flower. Smiles kept on everyone’s faces for a long time,” said Olena Makar, the branch’s coordinator.
A significant number of art therapy events and workshops in April were dedicated to Easter. The children demonstrated creativity and mutual support while weaving an Easter wreath, creating an Easter card in watercolor and a workshop on making an Easter basket. Such activities bring children very close together.
During individual therapy, one of the clients shared that she found candle-making and waxing classes very resourceful. We offered that she holds a workshop for children aged 7-10, to which she gladly agreed. Soon, we held this workshop accompanied by our psychologist. As a result, everyone took home a unique candle made with his or her own hands.
This month, the Youth Council met at the branch to strengthen teamwork, develop a strategy and a work plan. Also, the psychological support groups “Children and War” and “Safe Space” continued their work, as well as resource groups for parents.
In April, 123 children and adults received help at the Lviv branch, including 68 internally displaced persons. Our psychologists conducted 58 individual consultations for children and 48 for adults.
Chernivtsi branch
“We have moved to new premises with a separate room for the psychologists’ office. Now we can conduct individual counseling and group sessions at the same time. We moved almost all the furniture on our own, and the father of a boy who attends the branch helped us with the heaviest ones,” says coordinator Iryna Shestakova.
This month, our team was strengthened by students from the Chernivtsi National University. The future psychologists are now officially practicing at our center. Liza and Zhora were able to successfully hold events with our children, and there were a lot of participants.
More than 50 children painted eggs with wax painters. The atmosphere was extraordinary – candles were burning, and the melted wax spread a pleasant smell. Everyone chose their own symbol for the pattern and created a unique Easter egg.
In April, we held an exciting salsa class with an experienced instructor. All the participants mastered the dance steps and completely surrendered to the music while moving. Both children and parents were impressed by the experience.
And at the end of the month we had a real orienteering race. After the successful activity, the teams were awarded with certificates for speed, as well as with sweet bonuses of candies and crisps. The weather was in our favor. As the wards of the branch said, “it was a super day out,” and the highlight of the event was the kompot (fruit drink) cooked in a cauldron on a portable gas stove.
In April, we helped 125 people in the Chernivtsi branch. The Foundation’s specialists conducted 42 individual consultations and 27 psychological and psychosocial groups for children and adults.
Ivano-Frankivsk branch
“We decorated the office in a spring and summer style at the request of our children. And now I have my own portrait, painted by our 6-year-old client,” says Viktoria Merkulova, the branch’s coordinator.
The specialists of the branch came up with all sorts of workshops. The children made salt dough candle holders, postcards from willow branches, and motanka dolls. Teenagers made yarn chickens together with our staff members. The younger group made postcards out of colored paper and felt.
The origami lotus creation event was joined by a boy who has long been fond of this art and has a whole encyclopedia dedicated to it. The children made incredible flowers. One girl said: “I thought that origami was difficult, and we, as beginners, would do something very simple, but it turned out to be so beautiful that I did not expect it myself.”
The psychologists also conducted a psychological game ” Be Happy Together” at the branch. The children created the main character with their own hands and then came up with a story about it themselves. This allowed them to work through stress, negative emotions and accumulated anxiety.
This month, the branch helped 125 people. Psychologists conducted 93 individual consultations for children and parents and organized 27 psychological and psychosocial groups for families.
Truskavets-Skhidnytsia branch
“On April 7, we held an Open Day at the office. Many people who came to us for the first time were impressed by the variety of services and activities we offer. It was very pleasant to watch,” recalls coordinator Nataliya Boiko.
In April, psychologists and social workers prepared a lot of workshops and psychological games for both children and adults. Participants created Easter cards and made paper crafts. Such activities help develop fine motor skills, imagination, and thoroughness. The children were delighted with their work.
Over a month, the branch helped more than 100 people. Our specialists held 96 individual consultations and 70 psychological and psychosocial group sessions. 11 children with disabilities underwent physical rehabilitation.
Branch in Berehove
“The children’s imagination during the Easter workshops was enough to create artworks for their homes, friends, and even for our branch! Together with the children, we decorated small trees in the yard with Easter eggs that they made themselves,” says Zoya Bazylevych, the coordinator of the branch.
A large number of workshops this month were focused on therapy through arts. Working with felt, beads, and colored paper helps to develop children’s creativity, imagination, fantasy, and constructive thinking.
Easter quests organized by our coordinators made a real splash among children.
Two quests were held in our branch office. The children were delighted because they love to solve mysteries, reach the goal and get the desired prizes. After the quest, the friendly teams did not want to leave for a long time, so they decided to decorate the yard with colorful ribbons and make wishes.
In addition, a family literary club called “Pochytayka” was held weekly at the office.
The Parents’ Yard group, a space for psychological workshops and restorative art techniques that reveal new facets of parenting enjoyment and communication with a child, continued its work.
This month, 84 children and adults received help here. Our specialists conducted 41 individual consultations and 37 psychological and psychosocial groups for children and parents.
Kryvyi Rih branch
“After one of the group sessions, parents told us that these meetings are very useful for them. They allow them to better understand their children and analyze their parenting mistakes. We are glad that our efforts are changing the lives of our wards for the better,” says Natalia Shchetinina, a psychologist and coordinator of the branch.
In April, the Kryvyi Rih branch held classes under the Safe Space program for two children’s groups (aged 6-8 and 10-14). This program builds stress resilience in children. While playing, they learn to overcome their emotions, improve communication skills, and receive professional support.
Two meetings were held there in two adolescent groups in the format of a Teen Club. The topics of emotion control and non-violent communication were discussed. Children learned to interact with each other and express emotions.
The Safe Space program also included classes for parents.
The center helped 75 people. Specialists conducted 27 individual consultations and 14 psychological and psychosocial groups for children and adults.
Branch in Vysokyi
“Child’s joy is priceless. We discovered it once again at the holiday master classes. After creating grass-men, Easter bunnies and spring twigs, the children went home very happy. In addition, they received compliments from their families. Words cannot express how proud they were telling us about it,” says Alyona Chiryk, the branch coordinator.
April classes in the center were not only creative, but also informative. The children learned more about Ukraine, studied the concept of “Motherland”, drew pictures and studied the customs of their people. The participants got acquainted and communicated with their peers in a positive atmosphere. Such classes form a feeling of love and respect for Ukrainian symbols and language, and foster goodwill.
In the town of Budy, children had a dance master class. The entire team of the branch danced together with the children.
There was a master class for teenagers, where they formed responsibility, developed self-education, positive thinking and stress resilience.
In April, our specialists helped 133 children and 28 adults. Here we held 15 individual sessions and 46 psychological and psychosocial groups for children and adults.
Kharkiv branch
“Our children are the most talented. It’s not modest, but honest!” laughs the coordinator of the branch Elyzaveta Pysareva.
In April, our experts from Kharkiv developed the creative abilities of children in the center. A talent contest was held, where children sang and danced. A table tennis competition was organized for children interested in sports. The center also held an educational lecture “Traffic Rules”. Studies in the computer class also continued this month.
But Easter cards crafting for the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine became the most touching memory of April. The children created their gifta for the military very diligently, with love and gratitude.
The employees of the center helped 89 children and adults. 27 psychological and psychosocial groups for children and adults were held here.
Ternopil branch
“We are happy to share the news with you – this month our renovated office opened its doors in Ternopil. It was important for us to make this place comfortable and cozy for receiving psychological help. Therefore, we chose premises in the center of Ternopil. This is a historical part of the city, and the building itself is an object of cultural heritage. The lake and the main cathedral are nearby,” says Tetyana Bogatchuk, coordinator of the branch.
The branch has an open space area and a separate room for individual sessions with psychologists. Every detail of the interior was selected from the perspective of functionality and compliance with the general concept of the branch. The minimalist Scandinavian style was successfully combined with the gaming theme. Most of all, children like the area with soft poufs. And we also have a games collection, delicious tea and sweets. Therefore, our branch in Ternopil is a safe and cozy corner for everyone.
In addition to individual sessions, this month we started a group under the Safe Space program. There was also a first introductory meeting, where the participants got to know the psychologists and each other. The children actively spent time and shared their emotions, experiences and expectations from the events.
In April, our Ternopil specialists helped 13 wards. 10 individual sessions were held for children and adults.
Dnipro branch
The branch in Dnipro is already doing its final preparations for a full opening. In April, the team worked in the format of mobile teams, held a number of master classes on psychological adaptation, art therapy and organized a board game club. Our psychologists also conducted an online group under the Safe Space program and three individual sessions.
“When I returned to work with children after a long break, one girl was shocked when she saw me… She hugged me for a long time and even cried a little. I was very pleased and glad that we met again,” shared the coordinator of the branch, Serhii Ostroushko.
Already at the end of the month, our staff members tested the potter’s wheel and made two clay crafts.
“It’s just amazing! I can already see how children and adults will enjoy it! I also set up a table football last week – I can imagine how the boys and girls will score great goals there! We are looking forward to it and are doing our best to open our branch as soon as possible,” Serhii added.
In April, the center helped 29 children and adults, conducted 9 individual sessions, psychological and psychosocial groups for children and adults.
Zaporizhzhia branch
“We are working on purchasing all the necessary furniture as soon as possible and accepting parents and children offline in the the Zaporizhzhia branch office,” shares coordinator Yehor Prokopenko.
In April, the team began equipping the premises of our Zaporizhzhia branch. The final preparations are currently being made. Not to waste time, the team has already organized events for the wards and parents. They went to the circus, theater and philharmonic concert together. Some children visited such places for the first time in their lives.
“After talking with parents and children, we saw how important it is to hold such events with families. We noticed positive results in the socialization of children. In general, the children were very happy, and their eyes shone with joy – this is what we are working for,” adds Yehor.
About 86 people received help in Zaporizhzhia in April.