In April and May, “Children and War: Teaching Recovery Techniques” online psychological support groups for children from Kramatorsk were conducted within the “Helping Hand for Ukraine” project. The groups were facilitated by trainers Yana Serhieieva and Serhii Serhieiev.

The participants were children living in the reality of war, constant anxiety, and uncertainty. For many of them, simply having the opportunity to meet regularly online, see familiar faces, experience support, and feel safe became an important part of their emotional recovery.

For many children in frontline Kramatorsk, the online format has become more than an alternative to in-person meetings — it has been the only safe way to receive regular psychological support. Amid the constant threat of shelling, air raid alerts, and security restrictions, our online groups help ensure continued access to professional assistance and support children’s emotional well-being. Rather than a temporary solution, the online format has become a necessary condition that allows children in a frontline community to receive ongoing psychological support despite the challenging security situation.

During the sessions, children learned to better understand their emotions and cope with anxiety, fear, and worry. Participants were introduced to self-regulation techniques, breathing exercises, safe-place practices, strategies for working through fears, and methods for restoring emotional balance.

The trainers noted that with each session, the children became more open, confident, and engaged in communication. Those who were initially hesitant to speak or afraid of making mistakes gradually began to trust the group more, take initiative, and share their personal experiences.

Particularly meaningful were the moments when children began using the techniques not only during the sessions but also in their everyday lives. One participant learned to independently use the “square breathing” technique when experiencing strong anxiety. Another child started practicing the “safe place” exercise together with their grandmother at home to help manage difficult emotions and regain a sense of calm.

These small steps are incredibly important, as they gradually help children restore a sense of safety, trust, and inner resilience even under difficult life circumstances.

We sincerely thank the trainers for their attentiveness, compassion, and support, as well as every child for their trust, courage, and willingness to embrace the path toward healing and recovery.

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In May, the “Children and War: Teaching Recovery Techniques” psychological support groups for teenagers were held in Kamianets-Podilskyi. The groups were facilitated by trainers Tetiana Hordii and Tetiana Khameliuk within the framework of the “Helping Hand for Ukraine” project.

The participants were children and teenagers from Melitopol who were forced to leave their homes because of the war. For many of them, these meetings became not only an opportunity to learn how to better cope with fear and anxiety, but also a space where they could experience support, acceptance, and a sense of safety.

Each group had its own unique character, yet similar changes could be observed in all of them. Teenagers who initially kept their distance or hid their feelings behind humor or reserve gradually learned to talk about their emotions, trust one another, and share meaningful experiences. Within the safe environment of the group, they found support, opened up to sincere communication, and increasingly became a source of support for others. Particularly valuable were the conversations about their experiences of war, the loss of home, and fears that had previously been difficult to discuss even with close family members.

During the sessions, participants learned self-regulation techniques, worked through their fears, practiced recognizing their emotions, and explored their inner resources for recovery and resilience. For many teenagers, exercises focused on creating a sense of safety, developing empowering thoughts, and managing anxiety proved especially meaningful.

By the end of the program, a warm atmosphere of trust and acceptance had developed among the participants. The final meetings were filled with hugs, words of gratitude, and hopes to meet again in the future.

We sincerely thank the trainers for their compassionate and professional work, as well as every child and teenager for their trust, courage, and willingness to walk this path of healing and recovery together.

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Recently, another warm and deeply meaningful “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques” has been conducted. The training was led by trainers of our project, Iryna Sukhova and Tetiana Oboianska for the “VAV Better Future” Charity Foundation.

For many years, CF “VAV Better Future” and our Foundation have been united by fruitful cooperation, joint work with children and families, and a shared desire to make psychological support accessible to those living in the reality of war.

We are sincerely grateful to the team of “VAV Better Future” for their dedicated implementation of the “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques” program, for their ongoing support of specialists, and for their care for young Ukrainians who today especially need safe spaces, support, and recovery.

This was already the third training group this year. Specialists from different regions of Ukraine joined the program, including participants from the Poltava, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi, Kyiv, and Dnipropetrovsk regions.

During the training, participants studied recovery techniques, methods for working with children’s groups, and ways to support children experiencing anxiety, fear, and emotional exhaustion. At the same time, restoring the participants’ own emotional resources became equally important, as working with people requires great inner strength — especially during these difficult wartime conditions.

The warm atmosphere of communication, mutual support, breathtaking views of the Dniester and Smotrych river confluence, delicious food, and gentle spa experiences created a space where participants could not only learn, but also pause, recharge, and feel cared for.

We are grateful to continue this cooperation and to work together so that even more children in Ukraine can receive the psychological support they need and the opportunity to gradually recover, even during wartime.

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During war, not only children but also adults need support. Every day, many people live with anxiety, exhaustion, and the constant responsibility of caring for their families.

In Kyiv, a psychological support course has been recently held by trainers Olha Posternak and Tetiana Holovko as part of the “Helping Hand for Ukraine” project. Over the course of 7 therapy sessions, participants had the opportunity to speak openly about their emotions, experiences, and the challenges they face daily during wartime.

The group included 10 women, most of whom are raising children with special educational needs. For many of them, the everyday challenges of caring for their children are combined with the constant stress of war, air raid alarms, and emotional exhaustion.

The trainers shared that even air raid alerts did not stop the participants from attending the meetings. The women patiently waited for the danger to pass and hurried back to the sessions, worried they might be canceled. The final meeting even had to be held twice because air raid alarms lasted for several days in a row.

At the beginning of the program, many participants found it difficult to talk about their pain and experiences. But gradually, the group became a place of trust and openness. By the end of the meetings, the women were able not only to share their emotions, but also to speak about hope, dreams, and the wish to see their children happy in a peaceful future.

Support groups like these become spaces where adults can feel that they are not alone in their struggles. And when adults receive support, children around them gain more safety and stability too.

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Two “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques” psychological support groups for children and teenagers have recently been completed in Kamianets-Podilskyi by trainers Zhanna Melnyk and Tetiana Kharkova.

Over the course of seven sessions, participants learned to better understand their emotions and work through anxiety, stress, and the effects of traumatic experiences caused by war. A total of 23 children and teenagers took part in the groups, many of whom continue to live under constant stress due to the war, while others have experienced evacuation, displacement, or the loss of their homes.

The trainers shared that the sessions helped children gradually open up, feel safer, and find words for emotions that had previously been difficult to express. For many participants, the group became a safe space where they could talk about fear, grief, and painful memories without judgment or pressure.

One of the participants, Anastasiia, was forced to leave her hometown Mykolaiv because of the war and now lives with her grandmother in Kamianets-Podilskyi. During the sessions, she often spoke about her home, her parents, and the pets she deeply misses. Over time, she discovered her own way of coping with emotions — she began writing a book about her experiences, memories, and dreams.

Another participant, Maksym, initially showed high levels of anxiety and avoided interaction with other children. Gradually, he became more engaged in the group activities and, by the end of the program, was able to say: “Before, the war was always in my head. Now I know how to push it out and make space for dreams again”.

Stories like these remind us how essential psychological support is for children and teenagers during wartime. Even a few safe and supportive meetings can become the beginning of healing, helping children regain trust, emotional stability, and a sense of hope.

Every contribution helps us organize new support groups, create safe spaces for children, and stay close to families exactly when they need it most.

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When people talk about psychological support for children, it can often sound complicated, long, and difficult to understand.

But in reality, it starts with simple things — a safe space and a well-structured process.

This is exactly how the “Children and War: Teaching Recovery Techniques” program works.

These are not lectures or “talks about the right emotions.”
This is hands-on, practical work where children gradually learn to understand themselves and cope with what they are going through.

The sessions take place in groups — and this is very important.
Children see that they are not alone, that others feel similar things. This alone already reduces tension.

During the sessions, children don’t just talk — they draw, do exercises, work with their bodies, learn to calm themselves through breathing, and practice techniques for working through fear.

Through these simple activities, important changes begin to happen:
children start to better understand their emotions, feel less afraid of them, and gradually learn how to manage them.

It is also very important that no one forces a child to open up right away.
Each child moves at their own pace — and this is what builds trust.

Over time, children begin to talk about things that were previously too difficult or impossible to express.
At the same time, they gain practical tools they can use in everyday life — not only during the sessions.

That is why this program works.
Not because “we talked,” but because children gain a real experience of safety, support, and practical skills that stay with them.

We continue this work because we see how valuable it is.

In February–March 2026, a series of group sessions for children took place in Poltava as part of the “Helping Hand for Ukraine” project. The program “Children and War: Teaching Recovery Techniques” was delivered by facilitators Liubov But and Alina Zenchenko at Primary School #41.

A total of 26 children aged 8–9 participated in the program. They worked in two groups, gradually getting to know each other and becoming familiar with the format of the sessions.

The meetings were designed to help children not only talk, but also better understand their own emotional state and learn how to support themselves. Through simple exercises — breathing, body-based practices, and imagination — they developed skills for calming themselves and reducing tension. Special attention was given to working with fears, including techniques such as the “safe place” and the “fear ladder,” which help children gradually process difficult experiences.

Not all children engaged at the same pace: some needed more time to adjust and feel safe. However, over time, the groups began to change — with more trust, openness, and active participation emerging.

By the end of the program, positive changes were noticeable in most children: they found it easier to cope with anxiety, showed fewer signs of fear, and became more willing to talk about their experiences. Some participants also began using the learned techniques in their daily lives, both at school and at home.

This experience once again highlights the importance of creating safe spaces for children and providing them with simple, practical tools to cope with anxiety and emotional distress in everyday life.

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As part of the “Helping Hand for Ukraine” project, our team continues to deliver psychological support sessions for children under the program “Children and War: Teaching Recovery Techniques.”

From December 2025 to March 2026, a series of group sessions was held at School #159 in Kyiv for children who have experienced war-related trauma.

The sessions were led by trained facilitators Olena and Volodymyr Loboda. Each group attended seven meetings, during which children learned to understand their emotions, cope with fear and anxiety, and gradually restore a sense of safety.

The participants were children aged 10–12. Most had witnessed war-related events, and some were internally displaced.

Based on pre- and post-program assessments, most children showed a positive dynamic in their emotional well-being. In particular:

• a decrease in intrusive memories;
• reduced avoidance of traumatic topics;
• increased emotional openness and awareness of their own feelings.

The most powerful outcomes are reflected in the children’s personal stories.

One participant, who had witnessed shelling, had long hidden his emotions behind humor. With the support of the group, he was able to openly speak about his fear for the first time. After that, he became calmer, more attentive, and more engaged in the sessions.

According to the facilitators, many children were cautious or even reluctant to participate at first. However, over time, the group became a safe space where they could be themselves.

Children began to look forward to the sessions, stayed afterward to spend more time together, and supported one another. After the program ended, many asked when the next meetings would take place.

This experience once again confirms that group-based psychological support for children affected by war is highly effective. It not only helps reduce anxiety but also builds trust, support, and inner resources for future life.

We continue this work to ensure that as many children in Ukraine as possible receive the psychological support they need.

A series of psychological support sessions for children took place at the premises of Vinnytsia Higher Vocational School #11. The program was designed for children who have experienced difficult events and sudden changes in their lives. Among the participants were also children from the city of Sumy. The first meetings were not easy. Memories brought up strong emotions, and the children appeared tense and cautious. But little by little, an atmosphere of trust began to grow. The children started taking part in the activities more confidently, speaking more openly about their feelings, and trying new ways to cope with anxiety.

One of the participants had been struggling with anxious dreams for a long time after being evacuated. At first, she kept her distance, but with each session she became more open. Eventually, she shared that the dreams were no longer as frequent and didn’t scare her as much. Another participant is going through a difficult separation from his mother, who is currently serving in the military. At the beginning he was quiet and reserved, but gradually he became more engaged in the sessions and later said that the techniques he learned are helping him manage his worries.

This experience once again shows that when children have a safe space, professional support, and a group of peers around them, things begin to feel a little better. They are not just talking about difficult experiences — they are learning how to move forward, drawing on new inner strengths.

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Today marks four years since the start of the full-scale war.
Ukrainians have been living in the reality of war since 2014. Throughout all these years, it has been present in our children’s lives — in air raid alarms, displacement, the loss of home, and growing up too soon.

All this time, we have been standing with children.
We hold a safe and supportive space, listen, help them process what is difficult, and gradually restore a sense of safety.
Our psychological support groups are a place where a child does not have to be “strong” — where it is okay to cry, feel anger, stay silent, and learn to trust the world again.

According to official data from international and Ukrainian organizations, millions of Ukrainian children are growing up in conditions of war and constant stress.
Behind every number are real stories — small shoulders carrying a burden far too heavy for childhood.

Today, we especially want to thank everyone who makes this work possible:
our defenders — for the chance to live and to help;
volunteers — for their daily, often unseen but vital work;
our trainers and psychologists — for their resilience, professionalism, and humanity;
our partners and donors — for the trust and support that allow this help to continue.

We do not know how long the war will last.
But we know for certain: children need support now.
And we will continue doing our work for children.

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