The experience of working with children who have lived through war is important not only to apply in practice, but also to study and document. That is why we are glad to share the experience of implementing the “Children and War: Teaching Recovery Techniques” programme, presented in a scientific article published in the international journal Social Work & Society.

The article, “The Ukrainian Experience of Implementing the ‘Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques’ Programme During the Russo-Ukrainian War,” was authored by Iryna Sukhova, a specialist at HOPE worldwide Ukraine. The publication describes the experience of implementing the programme in Ukraine since 2014 and how its work has changed following the beginning of the full-scale war.

Over the years, the programme has developed from its first groups for children affected by the war in eastern Ukraine into large-scale work across different regions of the country. After 2022, there was a need to work in conditions of ongoing danger, mass displacement, and family separation. As a result, groups have been conducted not only offline, but also online and in blended formats.

The article includes not only statistics, but also practical observations from specialists. It describes the reactions children may experience after traumatic events, how group sessions are structured, and what skills children can use in their everyday lives.

According to the data presented in the study, during the first three years of the full-scale war, 12,121 children and 3,727 parents participated in the programme, while 1,534 trainers gained experience implementing the methodology. The programme continues to operate in Ukraine and beyond, helping children and families access psychological support even in wartime conditions.

The results described in the article also show positive changes in children’s psycho-emotional state after completing the programme, including reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression, improved sleep and social adaptation, and a decrease in symptoms related to traumatic memories, heightened tension, and avoidance.

For us, it is important that the practical experience of Ukrainian specialists becomes part of professional scientific discussion. This allows us not only to share what we do, but also to document and systematise the experience of providing psychological support to children during the war.

We continue our work, build on our experience, and share it with the professional community.

Read the full article in Social Work & Society.

👉 http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:464-2605081959565.313062363665

From August 11 to 13, trainers from the “Helping Hand for Ukraine” project, Iryna Sukhova and Yana Serhieieva, took part in a project organized by LUkraine and conducted an online seminar for the team of psychologists and instructors of the Gora LUkraine camp.

During the seminar, the specialists introduced the camp team to the “Children and War: Teaching Recovery Techniques” programme and discussed approaches to implementing it with children who have experienced the trauma of war and the loss of a loved one.

The camp will welcome families of fallen Heroes of the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade “Kholodnyi Yar” — mothers and children. The programme will provide psychological support aimed at helping them cope with the consequences of loss and supporting their emotional and psychological recovery.

Preparing the team of psychologists and instructors is an important part of organizing this work. During the seminar, participants had an opportunity to learn about the approaches and techniques used in the programme, which help create a safe environment for children, support them in processing their experiences, and develop skills for coping with stress.

The “Children and War: Teaching Recovery Techniques” programme is designed to support children affected by war in understanding their emotions, working with traumatic memories, and learning practical self-help techniques.

For HOPE worldwide Ukraine, it is important not only to provide psychological support groups directly, but also to share the programme’s experience with specialists working with children and families affected by the war.

Such partnerships help bring together professional experience and create additional opportunities for psychological support for Ukrainian children and their families.

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