Author:
Yuliia Didenko
“I drew you and your whole team. You all have big eyes because there’s kindness in them,” said a girl who attends activities at the Foundation’s center in Kropyvnytskyi. This summer, our kind-eyed team heldactivities at the centers and also traveled to local communities, libraries, shelters, and underground schools. In June, children painted sea pebbles and made wishes, watched thought-provoking animated films, learned how to tame the little monsters inside them, and made friendship bracelets.
Throughout June, we supported 1,402 children and 263 adults. Our psychologists held 1,126 individual psychological sessions for children and adults, 206 group psychological sessions, and 596 psychosocialgroup sessions for children and families. Case managers provided consultations to 464 people who came to us for help with applying for benefits, preparing documents, and other practical matters. 421 consultations were also provided within our online support service.
Below, we take a closer look at what made the first month of summer memorable in Mykolaiv, Kropyvnytskyi, Kharkiv, Kryvyi Rih, Truskavets, Dnipro, and Lviv. In Kharkiv, families thanked the speech therapistfor her attentive approach to the children. In Dnipro, they thanked case manager Ania for helping them apply for benefits, as well as Kamila, who helped one child learn to sew and become more focused. One mother said that after a clay workshop, her daughter came home in a good mood and immediately wanted to make something else with her own hands.
Below, we take a closer look at what made the first month of summer memorable in Mykolaiv, Kropyvnytskyi, Kharkiv, Kryvyi Rih, Truskavets, Dnipro, and Lviv. In Kharkiv, families thanked the speech therapistfor her attentive approach to the children. In Dnipro, they thanked case manager Ania for helping them apply for benefits, as well as Kamila, who helped one child learn to sew and become more focused. One mother said that after a clay workshop, her daughter came home in a good mood and immediately wanted to make something else with her own hands.
We really appreciated the psychologist’s work. The sessions took place in a warm and friendly atmosphere, and my child, a teenager, was happy to attend them,
Sea Pebbles, a Father’s Day Card, and a Collage on the Wall: How Children Spent Their Summer Creative Sessions
At our center in Kropyvnytskyi, children explored summer and seaside themes through art. They made watermelons and honeycombs, sculpted octopuses, arranged jellyfish from seashells, painted starfish, coral reefs, and beach scenes. During an activity called The Magic Pebble, each child painted a sea pebble and made a wish.
The film club continues to bring children together. They watched Up, Soul, The Wild Robot, and Swapped, discussed the characters and the values portrayed in each story, and after watching the film about the house lifted by balloons, created their own artwork using pom-poms and paint.
The film club continues to bring children together. They watched Up, Soul, The Wild Robot, and Swapped, discussed the characters and the values portrayed in each story, and after watching the film about the house lifted by balloons, created their own artwork using pom-poms and paint.
You always choose such wonderful cartoons, thought-provoking and psychologically deep ones. My child really enjoys them,
For Father’s Day, children made greeting cards and talked about why their fathers are important to them. One boy said he would put his card into a package with treats for his dad, who is serving in the military in another city. To mark Ukraine’s Constitution Day, they also made friendship bracelets from satin ribbons.
In Dnipro, children painted T-shirts and tote bags, sculpted with clay, made crafts, watched animated films, and recorded radio programs, while teenagers gathered in their clubs. Meanwhile, the Mykolaiv team ran creative activities for children aged 5–9 and teenagers aged 12–18, as well as the Theater Workshop club for children aged 6–10 and an Active Leisure Club.
In Dnipro, children painted T-shirts and tote bags, sculpted with clay, made crafts, watched animated films, and recorded radio programs, while teenagers gathered in their clubs. Meanwhile, the Mykolaiv team ran creative activities for children aged 5–9 and teenagers aged 12–18, as well as the Theater Workshop club for children aged 6–10 and an Active Leisure Club.
In Kryvyi Rih, children completed the Journey Around the World program and created a collage dedicated to every meeting they had joined. It now hangs on the wall of the center, where anyone can stop, look at it, and remember what brought them joy throughout the journey.
Superpowers and Time for an Upgrade: Psychological Support Groups for Children and Teenagers
In Mykolaiv, children aged 8–10 explored their own superpowers, and in June, the same program was launched for five-year-old kids, the youngest visitors to the center. Six- and seven-year-olds learned how to be good friends, while children aged 10–12 attended the Lighthouse group. In city kindergartens, preschoolers explored the magical world of emotions, and the number of these groups continued to grow throughout June: two new groups opened at Kindergarten No. 68, and another started in Vesnianske.
Teenagers at three of our centers spent June “taking time for an upgrade.” The group for 12–15-year-olds continued in Kharkiv and Lviv, while a new one launched in Truskavets. At the same time, another program for children aged 8–10, focused on creating a safe space, came to an end. A new Teens Club also opened in Kropyvnytskyi. During their first creative session, participants made three-dimensional cutouts, and later met with a psychologist to discuss identity and what makes each of us unique.
I never imagined meetings for teenagers could be this interesting! It’s amazing! I’m definitely coming back,
At summer school camps in Dnipro, children learned how to “tame the little monster inside themselves” and traveled through the world of emotions. They made resilience bracelets and sculpted with modeling clay. The Kryvyi Rih team also spent much of June working at summer school camps. In Kropyvnytskyi, children learned about friendship with Pomahaichyk (Helper), explored emotions, took part in salt painting and plasticine art workshops, watched a film, and also attended a workshop on creating squishy toys and bracelets.
Mobile Teams: Underground Schools in Kharkiv, Libraries, and a Shelter in Dnipro
This month, Kharkiv’s underground schools and schools operating in the metro invited our specialists to bring activities to them. The team held psychoeducational sessions and psychosocial activities for students. For the Kharkiv center, this was the highlight of June, as the schools themselves reached out for support. The team also organized a celebration, a quest game, and a creative session for children in the town of Pokotylivka.
Throughout June, the Mykolaiv team worked in libraries, museums, local communities, community hubs, and even at a military unit. In the village of Polihon, our specialists met with adults to help them reconnect with their sources of inner strength. At the Regional Library Named After Kropyvnytskyi, they ran storytelling sessions for children aged 6–9, family film clubs, creative workshops, and play clubs. At the Toy Museum, our professionals hosted film clubs for children aged 6–11 and teenagers aged 12–18.
Throughout June, the Mykolaiv team worked in libraries, museums, local communities, community hubs, and even at a military unit. In the village of Polihon, our specialists met with adults to help them reconnect with their sources of inner strength. At the Regional Library Named After Kropyvnytskyi, they ran storytelling sessions for children aged 6–9, family film clubs, creative workshops, and play clubs. At the Toy Museum, our professionals hosted film clubs for children aged 6–11 and teenagers aged 12–18.
At the Kherson hub, adults worked together with psychologists to identify their own sources of resilience and build a personal “toolbox” of coping strategies, while children aged 8–11 created their own collections of inner resources. The mobile team from Mykolaiv also brought its Colors of Summer program to children in the Halytsynove community, including a tote bag decorating workshop. In addition, the team organized a Multinational Mykolaiv excursion for students from Lyceum No. 19, children from a boarding school for children with hearing impairments, and their parents.
The Kropyvnytskyi team also visited Ye Bookstore (Knyharnia Ye). Together with the children, they talked about friendship, communication, and emotions, while our psychosocial support specialists helped them make friendship bracelets. Another outreach session, featuring plasticine art and movement activities, took place at Yatranchyk kindergarten. Meanwhile, the mobile team from Kryvyi Rih joined a local celebration in the Sofiivka community, and our Truskavets specialists held resilience-building sessions for staff at a preschool in Boryslav.
The Kropyvnytskyi team also visited Ye Bookstore (Knyharnia Ye). Together with the children, they talked about friendship, communication, and emotions, while our psychosocial support specialists helped them make friendship bracelets. Another outreach session, featuring plasticine art and movement activities, took place at Yatranchyk kindergarten. Meanwhile, the mobile team from Kryvyi Rih joined a local celebration in the Sofiivka community, and our Truskavets specialists held resilience-building sessions for staff at a preschool in Boryslav.
In Dnipro, the team worked in a shelter, where a case manager, psychologist, and psychosocial support specialist led joint activities. The children made bracelets, took part in movement games, painted, and created their own unique toys.
They always give us interesting activities at the shelter. I like it so much! I hope these sessions continue,
Real Families and Ideal Families: Support Groups and Meetings for Parents
At our center in Kropyvnytskyi, parents took part in a psychoeducational resilience-building session, comparing the real family and the ideal family. Together with a psychologist, the participants spoke about expectations and reality in relationships, family roles, family crises, and ways to maintain warm relationships. Each participant created a personal emotions map, shared their own experiences, and listened to others.
I’m so grateful for your work and everything you do. These resilience-building meetings truly matter to me because they make me feel supported and cared for. It means so much to know that there are events like these, a center like this, and people like you,
In Kharkiv, parents explored ways to build their inner resilience and worked with affirmations, while another session focused on how to stay connected with teenagers. In Lviv, a parenting group came to an end, helping adults learn how to parent with less stress. In Dnipro, a psychologist brought parents together to discuss how to support children through difficult times. In Kryvyi Rih, the Parents’ Club continued to meet. During one session, participants created vision boards, which inspired many of them to start turning their plans into action. In Truskavets, women gathered for therapeutic game-based sessions, while members of the city’s Council of Internally Displaced Persons took part in team-building exercises led by one of our psychologists.
Guests, Partnerships, and Special Events in June
In June, our Mykolaiv center welcomed an Italian journalist, who met with the center’s specialists and spoke with teenagers. The Dnipro center hosted colleagues from the Foundation’s head office. Together, they ran a Radio FM activity for children and had the opportunity to meet and connect in person. In Truskavets, families came together for a family event called More Fun Together. Children and their parents got to know the regional center, took part in shared activities, and enjoyed traditional games together.
In Kropyvnytskyi, artists led a one-day art lab for teenagers inspired by The Little Prince. Participants worked as a team, learned filming techniques, experimented with movement and voice, painted, andimagined. According to their feedback, they thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
In Kropyvnytskyi, artists led a one-day art lab for teenagers inspired by The Little Prince. Participants worked as a team, learned filming techniques, experimented with movement and voice, painted, andimagined. According to their feedback, they thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
Some of June’s activities were organized together with our partners. In Mykolaiv, the team joined forces with the city’s Department of Culture to host Mykolaiv’s Move, a board games day. Together with the NGO Child’s Smile, our specialists also held another resilience-focused session for adults, helping them reconnect with their sources of inner strength. In Lviv, the regional center and its partners ran two support groups: one helped adults strengthen their emotional resilience, while the other showed children aged 6–14 that play unites hearts.
It’s wonderful that, in a time when so much communication happens online, children still have a place where they can spend time together in person,
How You Can Support the Work of the Voices of Children Regional Centers
The work of our regional centers is made possible by the support of our donors. Your contribution helps fund a psychologist leading a group, enables a mobile team to travel to remote communities, and provides materials for creative activities—paint, clay, seashells, and ribbons that children use to create their artwork.
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