Author:
Євгенія Малащук
The last month of winter has been, to say the least, a difficult one for Ukraine. Amid the storm of news, we closely monitored the updates from our regional centers—places that continued their vital work and shared stories of the successes and achievements of the children in our care. Today, we want to share a few of these stories with you.
Eight-year-old Davyd from Dnipro Has Learned to Sculpt with Clay
"It was one of the very first things we bought for our work," recalls psychologist Yuliia Sakharova, who was the first to suggest starting clay therapy sessions at the center. Yuliia had already had experience running such sessions before the full-scale Russian invasion back in her hometown of Kramatorsk.
Why is clay therapy so important for children? It provides tactile stimulation and helps relieve stress. Whenever children work with clay, they always start smiling. It's also a powerful form of self-expression—when words fail, children can shape their feelings and thoughts with their hands. Moreover, it nurtures creativity and boosts a child's self-esteem. After each session, the children proudly take home the cups and vases they've made to show their families.
At home, eight-year-old Davyd already has a shelf filled with the items he created—a growing personal collection. Clay therapy sessions are his favorite.
"He's always asking me when we'll have clay again," Yuliia smiles. "Davyd is my main little helper—before classes, he helps other kids put on their aprons. And with each session, his work becomes more beautiful and refined. Making a plate is quite a challenge. But Davyd has already mastered it!"
Yuliia proudly speaks of Davyd's achievements—and those of the many other children she works with. Since the pottery wheel appeared at the Dnipro center, more than a thousand children have taken part in clay therapy. Some of their works are displayed right in the activity room. This space feels like a magical world of its own. Colorful, fairy-tale flowers bloom on the walls. "The children painted them by themselves," Yuliia says with pride. Shelves are carefully lined with their handmade creations.
"If our young artists don't take their works home, we send them to our Children's Creativity Museum," Yuliia explains. "You should see how proudly they remind us that it's their work. Those moments of pride—that's part of healing."
"He's always asking me when we'll have clay again," Yuliia smiles. "Davyd is my main little helper—before classes, he helps other kids put on their aprons. And with each session, his work becomes more beautiful and refined. Making a plate is quite a challenge. But Davyd has already mastered it!"
Yuliia proudly speaks of Davyd's achievements—and those of the many other children she works with. Since the pottery wheel appeared at the Dnipro center, more than a thousand children have taken part in clay therapy. Some of their works are displayed right in the activity room. This space feels like a magical world of its own. Colorful, fairy-tale flowers bloom on the walls. "The children painted them by themselves," Yuliia says with pride. Shelves are carefully lined with their handmade creations.
"If our young artists don't take their works home, we send them to our Children's Creativity Museum," Yuliia explains. "You should see how proudly they remind us that it's their work. Those moments of pride—that's part of healing."
Thirteen-year-old Artur from Zaporizhzhia Has Learned Not to Be Afraid
The house where Artur lived with his mother until the end of last year is on the left bank of the Dnipro River. This part of the city has been suffering heavily from shelling. The first time a shell landed close enough to break their apartment windows, Artur experienced a panic attack.
"He was shaking all over, couldn't breathe," his mother, Natalia, recalls. "After that, he stopped talking to friends and attending his beloved football training. He refused to eat. He was terrified of the sound of breaking glass. He hardly ever left the hallway—he considered it the only safe place."
"He was shaking all over, couldn't breathe," his mother, Natalia, recalls. "After that, he stopped talking to friends and attending his beloved football training. He refused to eat. He was terrified of the sound of breaking glass. He hardly ever left the hallway—he considered it the only safe place."
Natalia sought help from a psychologist at the Foundation's center in Zaporizhzhia. Anna Zastelo selected effective self-soothing exercises for Artur. The boy practiced them at home and gradually began to return to his normal life—he resumed football training and started communicating with friends again.
Our psychologists can do a lot, but even they cannot change reality. The neighborhood where Artur lives was shelled several more times.
"But my son stayed calm during those shellings—no panic attacks anymore," says Natalia. "After a shell exploded near his school, he was even soothing me. And when the neighborhood with the football field where Artur plays was hit, his first thought was about his teammates. After the explosion, the other boys dropped to the ground, but my son ran to them, urging them to get to a safer place. Thanks to those exercises and Anna's help, my son can now keep calm even in the most stressful situations."
In December, for Artur's sake, his mother made the difficult decision to move. Now, the small family lives in Kyiv.
"Anna suggested Artur to continue therapy at the Kyiv center," Natalia says. "But my son has grown so attached to her that he refused. He doesn't want to have another psychologist."
Anna has called Artur several times to check how he's doing. And he's doing well. He now attends a Kyiv school where his new classmates warmly welcome him. Recently, he was accepted into a local football club.
"For any mother, it's a hard step to reach out to a child psychologist," Natalia says. "Everything resists inside—you keep thinking, 'We don't need help; my child is fine!' But now that Artur and I have been through this difficult chapter, I can tell other moms: don't turn away from help. My son can keep a clear head in any situation, thanks to Anna. And now I know—he'll be okay."
Our psychologists can do a lot, but even they cannot change reality. The neighborhood where Artur lives was shelled several more times.
"But my son stayed calm during those shellings—no panic attacks anymore," says Natalia. "After a shell exploded near his school, he was even soothing me. And when the neighborhood with the football field where Artur plays was hit, his first thought was about his teammates. After the explosion, the other boys dropped to the ground, but my son ran to them, urging them to get to a safer place. Thanks to those exercises and Anna's help, my son can now keep calm even in the most stressful situations."
In December, for Artur's sake, his mother made the difficult decision to move. Now, the small family lives in Kyiv.
"Anna suggested Artur to continue therapy at the Kyiv center," Natalia says. "But my son has grown so attached to her that he refused. He doesn't want to have another psychologist."
Anna has called Artur several times to check how he's doing. And he's doing well. He now attends a Kyiv school where his new classmates warmly welcome him. Recently, he was accepted into a local football club.
"For any mother, it's a hard step to reach out to a child psychologist," Natalia says. "Everything resists inside—you keep thinking, 'We don't need help; my child is fine!' But now that Artur and I have been through this difficult chapter, I can tell other moms: don't turn away from help. My son can keep a clear head in any situation, thanks to Anna. And now I know—he'll be okay."
Fifteen-year-old Danylo Wins First Place in the 'Coat of Arms of Ukraine Through My Eyes' Contest
Danylo's family lives in the village of Vysoke in the Kharkiv region. At the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, his parents were active volunteers, helping distribute humanitarian aid. The family also gave shelter to two women with small children.
"At that time, thirteen people were living in our house; eight of them were children," recalls Danylo's mother, Olena. "It was lively, to say the least."
Currently, Danylo does not attend the local regional center—the situation is still tense in the Kharkiv region, and his mother is afraid to let him go far from home. Instead, the teenager is actively involved in sports—not only training himself but also able to coach others. He is also fond of studying the history of Ukraine, inspired by a friend who is studying at the Faculty of History.
Recently, Danylo participated in an online contest, 'Coat of Arms of Ukraine Through My Eyes.' His work is in the top 1 in the 'Computer Graphics' category. The whole family is proud of his achievement—and we are proud of him, too.
"At that time, thirteen people were living in our house; eight of them were children," recalls Danylo's mother, Olena. "It was lively, to say the least."
Currently, Danylo does not attend the local regional center—the situation is still tense in the Kharkiv region, and his mother is afraid to let him go far from home. Instead, the teenager is actively involved in sports—not only training himself but also able to coach others. He is also fond of studying the history of Ukraine, inspired by a friend who is studying at the Faculty of History.
Recently, Danylo participated in an online contest, 'Coat of Arms of Ukraine Through My Eyes.' His work is in the top 1 in the 'Computer Graphics' category. The whole family is proud of his achievement—and we are proud of him, too.
To speak in numbers, last month, specialists from our regional centers supported over 1,600 children and nearly 400 adults. They conducted nearly 1,000 individual consultations, over 100 group psychological sessions, and over 300 psychosocial activities.
In addition, in February, the Kyiv mobile team of the Voices of Children Foundation completed their mission in the de-occupied village of Kozyntsi of the Irpin amalgamated community. For five months, our specialists have been holding weekly psychological sessions for second-, third-, and sixth-grade students of the local gymnasium. In total, the Foundation's psychologists supported about 40 children there. The final session was warm—and a little bittersweet. One girl was so upset that the sessions ended that she refused to take a group photo. But in the end, she agreed to snap a selfie with the psychologist—to keep as a memory.
In addition, in February, the Kyiv mobile team of the Voices of Children Foundation completed their mission in the de-occupied village of Kozyntsi of the Irpin amalgamated community. For five months, our specialists have been holding weekly psychological sessions for second-, third-, and sixth-grade students of the local gymnasium. In total, the Foundation's psychologists supported about 40 children there. The final session was warm—and a little bittersweet. One girl was so upset that the sessions ended that she refused to take a group photo. But in the end, she agreed to snap a selfie with the psychologist—to keep as a memory.
If you share our mission and want to help Ukrainian children on their path to recovery, support the Foundation with a donation here.
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