Evacuation Continues, Children's Anxiety Increases: How the "Voices of Children" Foundation Assists Families in Kharkiv and Sumy Regions

Author:

Mariia Kucova

Russian military occupation forces have intensified their activities in Northern Ukraine, particularly increasing shelling in the Sumy region and renewing their offensive in the Kharkiv region. As a result, residents are once again being forced to leave their homes and evacuate to safer places.

People are leaving the border areas en masse. This time, they didn't need much convincing. Having endured one military occupation by Russians, they never want to experience it again,
commented Azad Safarov, co-founder of "Voices of Children", who is currently on assignment in the Kharkiv region.

How the "Voices of Children" Foundation Helps Families in the Kharkiv Region

Despite risks, the Foundation's team continues to help children and parents in the Centers of Kharkiv and its surrounding areas:

near the "Naukova" metro station;
near the "Maidan Konstytutsii" metro station;
in the Vysokyi rural settlement.

With the recent surge in security threats, the demand for group psychosocial activities in Centers has decreased — parents are afraid to let their children out of the house. However, the number of individual consultations has not changed.

Evacuation Continues, Children's Anxiety Increases: How the

Children's anxiety has increased — this is something our psychologists have noticed. In these conditions, children need ongoing support,
noted Alona Chyryk, regional coordinator in the Kharkiv region.

There have been additional requests from families regarding moving to other cities or abroad. Case managers are looking for opportunities to assist with this, including through volunteers. Additionally, Foundation specialists have visited a transit center where evacuated people stay and have left their contact information.

The Foundation's mobile outreach teams continue to organize activities in remote communities of the Kharkiv region: Pisochyn, Liubotyn, Zmiiv, Merefa, and Pivdenne. Since the start of the escalation, there have been about 8 outreach trips.

How the "Voices of Children" Foundation Helps Families in the Sumy Region

Currently, the Foundation does not have Centers in the Sumy region, but residents with children can receive humanitarian and psychological help by calling 0 800 210 106 or through a chatbot.

Moreover, "Voices of Children" has joined the restoration efforts in the de-occupied city of Trostianets. Funded by the Foundation, a new space for children and youth was opened in the city public library, as well as:

repaired and equipped a shelter at School No. 5;
equipped a resource room in School No. 2;
purchased camping equipment for the Palace of Children and Youth.

Support for the "Voices of Children" Charitable Foundation in the Kharkiv and Sumy regions can be made through the provided link.

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