Author:
Dmytro Romashko
For nearly a year, the project “Integrated Response to Ensure Inclusive Education and Protection for Children and the Most Vulnerable Population Victims of the Humanitarian Crisis in Ukraine” was actively implemented in Kyiv and Chernivtsi regions. It was carried out by the Voices of Children Foundation in partnership with the charitable organization Tree of Life—Ukraine, with financial support from the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS).
During this time, more than 1,500 children, parents, and educators received support.
During this time, more than 1,500 children, parents, and educators received support.
What we achieved over this period
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Over 1,000 children and adults received in-person psychological support (including in de-occupied communities of the Kyiv region). They attended individual consultations, participated in group therapy sessions and creative workshops with the Foundation’s psychologists. This support helped them adapt to new life circumstances, cope with loss, manage stress and anxiety, and overcome social isolation.
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More than 200 people reached out through the Foundation’s psychological support helpline. The most common concerns were anxiety caused by the war, difficulties in family and social interactions, and challenges adapting to new living and learning conditions.
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Over 150 educators received training on providing psychological first aid during wartime. They learned how children of different ages respond to stress and acquired basic emotional stabilization and crisis support techniques.
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Nearly 100 teenagers took part in safety and inclusion training. These sessions focused on gender-based violence, bullying, inclusion, and how to integrate children with disabilities and special educational needs into communities.
War destroys not only infrastructure but also the sense of safety, connection, and opportunities for growth. That’s why we support teachers to become pillars for children, help teenagers talk through painful topics and build resilience, and stand beside families who have lost their homes, routines—and, sometimes, even their loved ones.
We are grateful to our partners for their trust and cooperation in helping us strengthen systems for child protection and family support during wartime.
We are grateful to our partners for their trust and cooperation in helping us strengthen systems for child protection and family support during wartime.
Participant feedback
After the sessions, my son became calmer and more confident. He began practicing the psychological exercises taught to him by the specialist. We are sincerely grateful for this opportunity.
I used to believe bullying only happened in groups and that there was no clear way to counter it. But today I learned specific methods and understood how this process can be stopped.
I was able to reassess some of my past actions and look at my decisions from a different angle. Now I feel much more prepared for stressful situations at school.
This project is part of a broader initiative to address the needs of the population victims of the conflict in Ukraine and neighboring regions (AID 012832). Led by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) with a €46.5 million budget, the initiative aims to provide multi-sectoral life-saving assistance in areas directly impacted by the war and regions with a high concentration of internally displaced persons. Through collaboration with 27 civil society organizations, the AICS program builds on the success of the first initiative in 2022–2023 (AID 012600), which supported over 20,000 people through 14 projects. Particular attention was given to emergency medical care, education, and child protection.
For more information, please contact: Barbara Taccone, Communications Specialist at the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation in Kyiv (AICS), [email protected]
For more information, please contact: Barbara Taccone, Communications Specialist at the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation in Kyiv (AICS), [email protected]
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