Author:
Yuliia Didenko
The war has upended the lives of millions of children and adults in Ukraine. Air raid sirens, the sound of explosions, the need to react instantly to danger—all of this requires new self-soothing and emotional stabilization skills. Children feel this need especially acutely, as they are still learning to understand and manage their emotions. To support them in this challenging time, we are implementing special psychological support tools that help teach healthy ways of coping with stress and trauma. In 2024–2025, our regional centers across Ukraine received COPECARDs.
When Kateryna from Kryvyi Rih held a COPECARD for the first time, she realized that at last she had something concrete to help her in a moment of panic.
I thought I knew what to do when explosions happen, but when it really starts, you feel lost,
Now, she always carries these cards with her. Kateryna’s story is one of many proving the effectiveness of the partnership between the Voices of Children Foundation and the American social initiative COPEKIT.
The American company COPEKIT translated its stress coping tools into Ukrainian in 2022, specifically to support Ukrainian refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). Today, these colorful, compact cards by Barbara Hayward are helping children and adults in schools, hospitals, community centers, and bomb shelters across Ukraine—everywhere the war forces them to face stress daily.
How the Theory Behind COPECARD Works in Practice
In Dnipro, parents and children have appreciated the real benefits of COPECARD. They are grateful to finally have something meaningful to engage with during air raids. Confusion is a typical stress reaction, and we see a genuine need to have something concrete and effective at hand when the sirens interrupt daily life.
In Zaporizhzhia, psychologists note that the cards have become an effective tool for emotional stabilization. And in Kryvyi Rih, participants of the psychological support group Country of Support have decided to carry the cards with them at all times—even if they might never need them.
In Zaporizhzhia, psychologists note that the cards have become an effective tool for emotional stabilization. And in Kryvyi Rih, participants of the psychological support group Country of Support have decided to carry the cards with them at all times—even if they might never need them.
This is a wonderful tool that keeps the child occupied. We didn’t even know such simple yet useful exercises existed,
The cards have proven especially valuable during the work of our mobile psychological teams. In the village of Radevycheve, Kryvyi Rih district, there are virtually no social services. When our specialists go there, every tool matters. The cards have become indispensable when working with groups of children and adults. Participants say that thanks to COPECARDs, it has become easier for them to identify their emotions, cope with them, and reduce anxiety.
Support in Frontline Areas
The situation in the Mykolaiv region is specific. Due to its proximity to the front line, response time is critically short, and air raid alerts often come too late to warn about danger. Under such conditions, COPECARDs have become an essential tool.
In the village of Berezanka, a psychologist worked with 16 children aged 9 to 13. They have been studying online for a long time, so sessions with psychologists are also an opportunity for socialization. Here, children learn to communicate with each other and to understand their moods and feelings. COPECARDs help: children always have a reminder of how to calm themselves during an air raid and what to do in moments of profound stress.
In the village of Berezanka, a psychologist worked with 16 children aged 9 to 13. They have been studying online for a long time, so sessions with psychologists are also an opportunity for socialization. Here, children learn to communicate with each other and to understand their moods and feelings. COPECARDs help: children always have a reminder of how to calm themselves during an air raid and what to do in moments of profound stress.
The past few weeks have been extremely difficult in Chernihiv—air raid alerts have lasted from 5 to 16 hours daily. Recently, a leisure specialist managed to hold just one activity in our center before another siren went off. COPECARDs proved useful once again—both in the bomb shelter and after the all-clear: they helped stabilize the children’s emotional state. The reaction was unexpected: one girl asked to take a photo with every single card.
Teenagers have also responded positively to the cards. According to psychologists in the Chernihiv region, during the group activity “Me in the World. My Voice on the Canvas,” the COPECARDs became part of genuine self-reflection. Specialists note the combination of deep meaning and bright design—this is what makes the tool especially appealing to young people. It grabs their attention and helps them better absorb and apply the skills they learn.
Teenagers have also responded positively to the cards. According to psychologists in the Chernihiv region, during the group activity “Me in the World. My Voice on the Canvas,” the COPECARDs became part of genuine self-reflection. Specialists note the combination of deep meaning and bright design—this is what makes the tool especially appealing to young people. It grabs their attention and helps them better absorb and apply the skills they learn.
The Voices of Children Foundation continues to implement COPECARDs in its regional centers. The cards combine learning healthy coping skills, crisis intervention, and prevention of destructive reactions. We ensure that children and their parents have access to the most up-to-date methods of psychological support in the most difficult moments of their lives.
We sincerely thank our partners at COPEKIT and Barbara Hayward personally for the initiative and the tools that help children and their families restore inner strength every day.
We sincerely thank our partners at COPEKIT and Barbara Hayward personally for the initiative and the tools that help children and their families restore inner strength every day.
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