There are teams that work like mechanisms. And then there are teams that work like a heart.
The “Helping Hand for Ukraine” team of trainers is just like that. Alive. Deep. Humane. A team that heals not only with techniques, but simply by being there for people.
This June, in the heart of the Carpathians, in the cozy and picturesque town of Skhidnytsia, a special retreat took place — for those who usually care for others, who support, endure, and carry many hearts on their own shoulders.
The “Helping Hand for Ukraine” team of trainers came together to make a pause — not because the struggle has ended, but because it continues. And that means we need strength.
Strength that is born from unity, from connection, from breathing, from the little things we often postpone “for later.” Delicious food, sunshine and water — rest for the body enabled rest for the mind and soul.
Workshops by Nataliia Podoliak, Khrystyna Kravchenko, and Olena Bozhor created a space for deep inner reset. Every exercise was more than a technique — it was a moment of reconnecting with ourselves, with the exhaustion we’ve learned to ignore, and with the hope we want to preserve.
A special highlight was the meeting with artist and volunteer Khrystyna Solomchak from Drohobych, who shared how painting can express what words cannot.
There was also time for exploration — a trip to the spiritual site of Tustan in the Skole Beskids, where ancient stones remember stories of resilience.
And there, under the open sky and amidst the mountains, came a moment that moved us all: our married team members, Anastasiia and Yevhen, shared the joyful news that they are expecting a baby. They even organized a gender reveal — a celebration met with tears, joy, and a shared sense of hope.
It wasn’t just an announcement — it was a symbol of life that continues, that wins.
In the warmth of our team circle, we reflected on the road we’ve walked — on how much we’ve done for children, teachers, parents, for Ukraine. But even more — we spoke of the future.
Because the threat hasn’t vanished. Which means we must stay strong. Not hardened by pain alone, but united by trust, shared purpose, and human warmth.
This retreat became not only a space for professional growth, but also for simple, sincere togetherness — over a cup of coffee, on a walk, in late-night conversations about meaning and plans.
It became a charge of energy, a foundation for the coming year — for us, a team that knows how to heal, to hold, to lift, and to move forward.
