Author:
Yuliia Didenko
"I feel so good here. It feels like home!" — this is how eight-year-old Aniuta described her sessions at the Voices of Children center in Kropyvnytskyi. Over the past two spring months, there have been many moments like this across our regional centers. Children learned how to cope with stress, while parents found opportunities to pause and take care of themselves. Our mobile teams traveled to remote communities in different regions: from the Chernihiv to the Kherson region. In this spring digest, we've gathered some of the most memorable moments from across the Foundation's centers.
During April and May, we supported 1,815 children and 713 adults. Our psychologists conducted 2,244 individual sessions, 418 group sessions, and 1,205 psychosocial group activities for children and adults. Another 757 consultations took place online. Our case managers also helped 734 people with social benefits, documentation, and other practical issues.
During April and May, we supported 1,815 children and 713 adults. Our psychologists conducted 2,244 individual sessions, 418 group sessions, and 1,205 psychosocial group activities for children and adults. Another 757 consultations took place online. Our case managers also helped 734 people with social benefits, documentation, and other practical issues.
“I Took a Breath and Let It Out First”: How Our Psychological Programs Help Children
This spring, several psychological support groups came to an end at our Sumy center. One participant in the My Superpower program summed up better than anyone what changes these sessions can bring to a child's life.
Recently, I got into an argument with a boy from another class. Before, I would have thought he stepped on my foot on purpose. But this time, I took a breath and let it out first. Then he said he hadn't meant to... and that was it,
Across Ukraine, programs were both concluding and beginning. In Mykolaiv, children aged 6–7 completed a program focused on preventing the long-term impact of traumatic experiences, while children aged 8–12 began the My Superpower and Beacon programs. Kharkiv and Lviv launched new groups for teenagers, while Chernihiv opened Kindness Is Where Every Person Begins and The Box of Courage groups for children aged 6–8. In Truskavets, one session for children aged 5–7 explored a topic that many adults struggle with as well — It's okay to make mistakes.
Zaporizhzhia psychologists are undergoing certification in Hibuki therapy — a method in which a child is supported by Hibuki, a toy dog with long arms that can hug them. Children look forward to every session. After every night-time attack, it was with Hibuki that they were able to calm down and cope with difficult emotions.
Easter Crafts, Gingerbread, and Vyshyvanka Day: Tradition and Creativity as Sources of Strength
April brought color and baking to our centers. Ahead of Easter, children in Lviv made jute Easter eggs, felt ornaments, and decorative branches adorned with painted eggs. In Kropyvnytskyi, they decorated gingerbread cookies and wove flower wreaths. Beyond the holiday-themed activities, the Kropyvnytskyi team also introduced two new sessions, Painting with Lemons and the Mood Detectives quest, both of which attracted a record number of participants.
In Kharkiv, Easter workshops took place even in the city's underground school. On 2 April, the Kyiv team organized two Easter workshops at the Ukrposhta main office, where 44 children painted wooden ornaments while learning about Easter traditions.
In Kharkiv, Easter workshops took place even in the city's underground school. On 2 April, the Kyiv team organized two Easter workshops at the Ukrposhta main office, where 44 children painted wooden ornaments while learning about Easter traditions.
In May, our regional centers prepared for Vyshyvanka Day, a special day honoring the traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirt, the vyshyvanka. In Mykolaiv, schoolchildren created photo zones together and learned to read the symbolism behind traditional embroidery patterns during a session organized jointly with the Patrol Police. In Dnipro, children designed their own embroidery-inspired ornaments. In Truskavets, participants made guardian angel decorations during a session titled “Vyshyvanka Unites Hearts.” Meanwhile, the Chernihiv center invited mothers and children to family events called Mother's Day: Time Spent Together and The Code of Unity: From Tradition to the Future.
"Time for Yourself": How Parents Recharge at Our Centers
In Kropyvnytskyi, a new series of resource groups for parents was launched and now takes place twice a month. The first two sessions, dedicated to the language of attachment and stress management, were attended by eleven mothers. The format was carefully designed: while parents worked with a psychologist, their children played nearby in the playroom. The center's psychologist also regularly visits the local Mother and Child Center. After one such meeting, a participant named Anastasiia painted a birch tree and added a handwritten note expressing her gratitude.
In Kyiv, the psychological support group Motherhood with a Letter A came to an end, and a new group was launched already in May. In Lviv, psychologists continued the Parenting Without Stress program, while in Kharkiv weekly parent groups included creative activities: participants painted T-shirts, made gel candles, and wove mandalas.
In Truskavets, women attended art therapy sessions called Time for Yourself and tried game-based therapeutic practices for the first time. Meanwhile, the Kryvyi Rih team also focused on supporting teachers by organizing two burnout prevention training sessions for educators from the local community.
In Truskavets, women attended art therapy sessions called Time for Yourself and tried game-based therapeutic practices for the first time. Meanwhile, the Kryvyi Rih team also focused on supporting teachers by organizing two burnout prevention training sessions for educators from the local community.
Mobile Teams of Psychologists: More Than Thirty Visits to Communities
This spring's record belonged to the Chernihiv team, which made eleven visits during May alone, traveling to Novoselivka, Prokhory, Berestovets, Olenivka, Shapovalivka, Mena, and Honcharivske.
In April, the Kryvyi Rih mobile team traveled five times to the Hrechani Pody and Novopillia communities. One of those visits coincided with the opening of a sensory room, where children relaxed in suspended cocoon swings, played in a ball pit, and learned to recognize emotions.
In April, the Kryvyi Rih mobile team traveled five times to the Hrechani Pody and Novopillia communities. One of those visits coincided with the opening of a sensory room, where children relaxed in suspended cocoon swings, played in a ball pit, and learned to recognize emotions.
In Dnipro, the team continues working regularly with children at the Good on Amur shelter. Specialists from the Sumy center made eight visits to the Trostianets, Lebedyn, and Boromlia communities, while the Dnipro team traveled seven times to the Mohyliv community and Oleksandropil. Psychologists from the Kharkiv center also held group sessions for schoolchildren in Pokotylivka.
A psychologist from the Kropyvnytskyi center visited eighth-grade students at the alternative school Krok with a session titled “Who Am I in a World of Conflict?” After discussing conflict and reconciliation, the students made friendship bracelets together. Meanwhile, psychologists Yuliia Tukalenko and Olena Trehub from the Kyiv center led a four-hour workshop in Vasylkiv for eighteen teachers on trauma-informed approaches to working with children and parents.
A psychologist from the Kropyvnytskyi center visited eighth-grade students at the alternative school Krok with a session titled “Who Am I in a World of Conflict?” After discussing conflict and reconciliation, the students made friendship bracelets together. Meanwhile, psychologists Yuliia Tukalenko and Olena Trehub from the Kyiv center led a four-hour workshop in Vasylkiv for eighteen teachers on trauma-informed approaches to working with children and parents.
A Celebration for One Hundred Children, a Media Literacy Course, and the Children's Railway: Spring Partnership Events
The relocated Stepnohirsk community approached our Zaporizhzhia center with a request to hold a single psychosocial activity as part of one of their events. Instead, the team proposed something much bigger: a four-hour quest-style celebration, titled “Hello, Summer!”, for more than one hundred children. Seven partner organizations joined the event, including the Ukrainian Red Cross and the National Police. Children went through creative workshops and sports stations, received gifts and popcorn, while parents worked with the Foundation's psychologists to create their own personal resource maps.
Teenagers in Kyiv completed two intensives delivered by trainers from the Understanding Europe Ukraine organization: a media literacy course focused on critical thinking and a Civic Activism and Leadership course. Participants explored how frustration with issues at school or in their communities can be transformed into real-life projects. Forty children visited the Children's Railway, while families gathered twice for cooking workshops at Chachapuri restaurant.
In Lviv, psychologists held sessions for participants of the Generation Tech IT course in both Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk.
In Dnipro, children became radio hosts and journalists during the Radio of Dreams and FM Freedom sessions, while teenagers spent their Saturday meetings growing their own crystals. Suspilne Dnipro produced a feature about the center's work, and the team also gave an interview to French journalists. The Friday teen clubs featuring Mafia, karaoke, and pajama parties have received the most feedback from teenagers.
In Dnipro, children became radio hosts and journalists during the Radio of Dreams and FM Freedom sessions, while teenagers spent their Saturday meetings growing their own crystals. Suspilne Dnipro produced a feature about the center's work, and the team also gave an interview to French journalists. The Friday teen clubs featuring Mafia, karaoke, and pajama parties have received the most feedback from teenagers.
I love everything about this place. It's the best place on Earth,
In Mykolaiv, teenagers prepared mochi desserts and completed an escape room together with the Peaceful Heaven Charitable Foundation. At Lyceum No. 19, children painted T-shirts during a workshop organized with the NGO Pivden ("South"), and school staff later wrote that the children had "turned into real designers." Younger children celebrated International Museum Day with visits to the local history and art museums, as well as a behind-the-scenes tour of the puppet theatre.
Meanwhile, Kryvyi Rih's Around the World program, where each session is dedicated to a different country, has become a local favorite. Registration was closed within just two hours every time a new schedule was published.
Meanwhile, Kryvyi Rih's Around the World program, where each session is dedicated to a different country, has become a local favorite. Registration was closed within just two hours every time a new schedule was published.
We would like to conclude this digest with the words of a mother from Kharkiv who turned to the Foundation for support.
Every time we come here, we feel like we’re at home — calm, safe, and understood,
This summer brings many more exciting events, new support groups, and visits to local communities. If there is a Voices of Children regional center in your city, follow the Foundation's social media to stay updated on upcoming activities. Our regional centers are places where children and teenagers can find a community of like-minded peers, receive psychological care, and take part in creative activities and games.
Anyone who needs support can also contact our free psychological support helpline for children and parents at 0 800 210 106.
You can support children by making a donation, becoming a monthly donor, or sharing information about our work. Together, we can help even more children.
Anyone who needs support can also contact our free psychological support helpline for children and parents at 0 800 210 106.
You can support children by making a donation, becoming a monthly donor, or sharing information about our work. Together, we can help even more children.
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