Author:
Yuliia Didenko
In December, we prepared for St. Nicholas Day, Christmas, and New Year while also completing psychological programs and summing up the results of 2025. Teams at our centers worked with children of different ages, adolescents, parents, and professionals. We combined in-depth psychological support with a festive atmosphere, organizing New Year-themed interactive activities and quests, giving gifts, and sharing moments of joy. We also carried out visits to communities to reach as many families as possible.
In December, we provided support to 1,043 children and 379 adults. Our psychologists conducted 878 individual psychological sessions for children and adults, 167 group psychological sessions, and 483 psychosocial group activities for children and families. In addition, 451 people received support through case management services.
Below is an overview of how Voices of Children centers supported Ukrainian children and families in Mykolaiv, Lviv, Kryvyi Rih, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipro.
Below is an overview of how Voices of Children centers supported Ukrainian children and families in Mykolaiv, Lviv, Kryvyi Rih, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipro.
Миколаїв: завершення психологічних програм і святкові активності для дітей
In December, several psychological programs came to an end, during which participants explored their feelings and desires. Children attended the AnimeCreative Club and completed a PTSD prevention program designed to help reduce the power of fear over their daily lives. Families visited the Toy Museum together, took part in creative workshops making Christmas trees and snowmen, joined a Harry Potter-themed quest, and attended a pajama party hosted at the museum.
When gifts from the Foundation began to arrive, many families sent heartfelt letters expressing their gratitude for the support. We also joined our partners at the opening of the children’s art exhibition titled “Magical Christmas” and the holiday event “New Year’s Wonders”.
Our team worked beyond the center as well. At libraries, we organized storytelling sessions, family film clubs, and workshops, creating greeting cards for Ukrainian defenders. In the village of Mishkovo-Pohorilove, psychologists worked in kindergartens, while in the Kherson Hub, they facilitated sessions for adults focused on restoring inner balance.
Our team worked beyond the center as well. At libraries, we organized storytelling sessions, family film clubs, and workshops, creating greeting cards for Ukrainian defenders. In the village of Mishkovo-Pohorilove, psychologists worked in kindergartens, while in the Kherson Hub, they facilitated sessions for adults focused on restoring inner balance.
Dnipro: How Are You? Program for School Students and Training Sessions for Psychologists
The Dnipro team implemented the psychological program titled “How Are You?” for fifth- and eighth-grade students, running three groups based in schools. Both children and their parents were delighted to receive holiday gifts this year.
Together with the NGO Free Choice (Vilnyy Vybir), our psychologists also conducted two two-day training sessions for colleagues. Due to high demand for training on child suicide, violence, and coping with loss, the number of participants was limited, and not everyone was able to join.
The team made four outreach visits to the Mohyliv community and three to the Bozhedarivka community. They organized a partner event with the TopFest festival and held a New Year’s holiday marathon, both at the center and in communities, to reach as many families as possible.
Together with the NGO Free Choice (Vilnyy Vybir), our psychologists also conducted two two-day training sessions for colleagues. Due to high demand for training on child suicide, violence, and coping with loss, the number of participants was limited, and not everyone was able to join.
The team made four outreach visits to the Mohyliv community and three to the Bozhedarivka community. They organized a partner event with the TopFest festival and held a New Year’s holiday marathon, both at the center and in communities, to reach as many families as possible.
The work of the centers in Mykolaiv and Dnipro is carried out within the EMPOWER project (K-UKR-2025-4026), supported by the German humanitarian organization Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe.
Lviv and Kryvyi Rih: Christmas Events and Psychological Support for Families
In December, the Lviv center focused on Christmas and New Year activities with the involvement of psychologists. The main goal was to create a festive space where children and families could feel safe. In addition, a support group for mothers was held, providing a space to share experiences and find understanding among peers.
In Kryvyi Rih, our psychologists organized five holiday events with gift-giving. One moment was especially touching: a boy chose to share his gift, a lamp, with his older brother, a Ukrainian defender who had come home on leave.
The team carried out nine outreach visits to the Hrechani Pody, Novopillia, Hleiuvatka communities, and to Zhovti Vody. A Teenage Club for adolescents was launched. Children took part in quests, created Christmas decorations, and immersed themselves in the atmosphere of New Year Adventures.
The team carried out nine outreach visits to the Hrechani Pody, Novopillia, Hleiuvatka communities, and to Zhovti Vody. A Teenage Club for adolescents was launched. Children took part in quests, created Christmas decorations, and immersed themselves in the atmosphere of New Year Adventures.
Kharkiv: Psychosocial Activities in an Underground School and the Joyful Parenting Program
Kharkiv psychologists regularly visit an underground school, where children study in a shelter because the sound of air raid sirens has become part of everyday life. In December, the team organized themed Christmas and New Year group activities there so that children could experience the magic of the holidays. At the center itself, children engaged in creative activities such as plasticine modeling, cutouts, unconventional painting, film clubs, play spaces, and wood burning. A gel candle-making workshop was launched for the first time.
Among the key events of December were themed holiday celebrations and the distribution of gifts from the Foundation. The team continues to implement the Joyful Parenting program and regularly travels to Zlatopil to work with a local underground school.
Among the key events of December were themed holiday celebrations and the distribution of gifts from the Foundation. The team continues to implement the Joyful Parenting program and regularly travels to Zlatopil to work with a local underground school.
Zaporizhzhia: ReachNow Training Sessions for Professionals and the Parenting Without Stress Program
The Zaporizhzhia center operated at the Library named after Androsov. Some participants attended one-off sessions, while others joined Foundation-recommended programs. Holiday events for St. Nicholas Day, Christmas, and New Year became the highlights of the month. Children were thrilled, and parents sent us video feedback.
The Parenting Without Stress program continued to provide mothers and fathers with a space for sharing experiences and mutual support. Two ReachNow training sessions were held for professionals working with children. These sessions became an important offline space for meeting colleagues and like-minded people, discussing complex cases, and restoring inner resources. A mobile team worked at the Nezlamnyi (Unbreakable) Khortytskyi Hub and High School No. 95. The team also traveled twice to the village of Novoslobidka.
Key events of the month included the Christmas Miracle event with gifts from the Foundation, a team gathering and a Secret Santa event, the opening of a new venue for activities at High School No. 95, the engagement of new beneficiaries, and ReachNow training sessions.
Key events of the month included the Christmas Miracle event with gifts from the Foundation, a team gathering and a Secret Santa event, the opening of a new venue for activities at High School No. 95, the engagement of new beneficiaries, and ReachNow training sessions.
In Kharkiv, Kryvyi Rih, and Zaporizhzhia, the Voices of Children Foundation is implementing the project “Improving Child Protection and MHPSS (Mental Health and Psychosocial Support) Mechanisms for Children, Adolescents, and Families Affected by the Conflict in Ukraine” in partnership with the international NGO Plan International, funded by the German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt). The activities of the Lviv center are made possible thanks to the financial support of the Ukrainian company Kormotech.
The war continues, and the need for the support we provide every day is growing. For the boy who shares his gift with his soldier brother. For children who delight in quests and creative activities. For mothers who, for the first time in months, allow themselves to speak openly about fear and exhaustion. For professionals who restore their inner resources during training and realize they are not alone with their complex cases.
The demand for psychological support remains immense, and the teams at our regional centers are ready to continue providing it for as long as it is needed.
The demand for psychological support remains immense, and the teams at our regional centers are ready to continue providing it for as long as it is needed.
Currently, ten regional Voices of Children centers and mobile teams operate across Ukraine. At each center, children can find a community of like-minded peers, receive psychological support, and take part in creative activities and play.
An online psychological support helpline is also available at 0 800 210 106 (free of charge within Ukraine, calls accepted from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.).
We thank our partners and all friends of the Foundation for working together.
An online psychological support helpline is also available at 0 800 210 106 (free of charge within Ukraine, calls accepted from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.).
We thank our partners and all friends of the Foundation for working together.
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This winter, we also launched the campaign “What If the Patronus Is Actually You?” to bring together a community of donors and support Ukrainian children who are facing especially difficult circumstances right now. The funds raised will go toward providing psychological support to children living in frontline communities and online, support for families of Ukraine’s defenders, and other vital areas.
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Join our mission by making a donation, signing up for a monthly subscription, or sharing our updates. Together, we can do more.
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