During the 6 months of the full-scale russian invasion in Ukraine, almost 3,000 internally displaced people, including 1,037 adults, 1,645 children within Ukraine and 225 children abroad, received psychological help within the trauma therapy program. In addition, 722 specialists became trainers in the method of helping people to cope with war trauma. From now on they will teach young and adult Ukrainians the self-help techniques for healing traumatic psychological consequences of war, using the unique methodology “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques”, developed by British and Norwegian scientists.

The methodology “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques” is an effective tool of psychological self-help for people with traumatic consequences of war, natural disasters, and other cataclysms. It works well with both children and adults, as it is a result of the combined years of direct experience of working with child survivors of war and disaster.

The methodology was developed in 1998 by professionals from the Institute of Psychiatry in London, UK, and the Center for Crisis Psychology in Bergen, Norway, and has been used after earthquakes in Iran, India, Chile, and China, the tsunami in South East Asia in 2000, as well as war conflicts in Africa, Sri Lanka, Palestine, Iraq, Syria, and Ukraine. The manual “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques” has been translated and adapted by experts from the Ukrainian Institute of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (Lviv, Ukraine). Since 2015, it has been successfully used to teach trainers and to conduct therapy courses in Ukraine within the “Helping Hand for Ukraine” project, implemented by “HOPE worldwide Ukraine” Charity Foundation with the support of our American and Canadian partners, charitable organizations HOPE worldwide (USA) and HOPE worldwide Canada.

“Since March 2022, our team has conducted therapy sessions for almost 300 groups of children and adults throughout Ukraine,” – says the Project’s chief psychologist Iryna Sukhova. – In particular, therapy sessions were organized in Kyiv, Dnipro, Zhytomyr, Pereyaslav, Nemishaeve, Lviv, Drohobych, Novoyavorivsk, Truskavets, Boryslav, Skhidnytsia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Khmelnytskyi, Odesa, Rivne, Kamianets-Podilskyi, Pylypets, Volovets, Uzhgorod, Vinnytsia, Chernivtsi, Ternopil, Lutsk, Mykolaiv, Chornomorsk, Poltava, Kropyvnytskyi, Nikopol, Cherkassy, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Bucha, Irpin etc. Furthermore, 220 children who were having rest in camps for the IDPs in Zakarpattia, Prykarpattia and Kamianets-Podilskyi were able to learn effective healing techniques and practice self-help skills to overcome the war trauma. Every day we see the therapy results with our own and receive many grateful feedbacks from parents. The effectiveness of the therapy is impressive – children become less anxious, they sleep better, their nightmares, obsessive thoughts and panic attacks lose intensity or disappear, and they more often start to feel safe”.

This innovative methodology promotes the development of special skills in children and adults for reducing the psychological after-effects of trauma through self-help, relaxation and healing techniques in the face of intense war-related stress. In addition, it is designed to reduce anxiety and prevent post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other complications in the future.

“Our organization has been working in Ukraine since 2015,” – says Volodymyr Yermakov, President of the “HOPE worldwide Ukraine” Charity Foundation. – Before the full-scale invasion of russia, our team was working mainly with internally displaced people from the east of Ukraine. After February 24, 2022, the geography of our activities expanded significantly. We are very grateful to our donors and partners who support the people of Ukraine in such a difficult time. We are constantly developing our common projects for the benefit of Ukrainians. The work of our team is very important now and will be relevant for a long time to come. The experience of war is a very traumatic experience, and Ukraine needs healthy children and healthy parents to rebuild. That is why it is difficult to overestimate the importance of trauma healing techniques. The goal of our activity is to improve the socio-emotional and psychological well-being of Ukrainian children and adults with war trauma, reduce the level of anxiety, and increase their opportunities for a fulfilling life in the future.”

The team of the “Helping Hand for Ukraine” project of the “HOPE worldwide Ukraine” Charity Foundation intends to continue its work as long as there are people who need psychological help. With extensive experience in dealing with war trauma, the Project team is ready to share experience and expertise, in particular, to contribute to the creation of the National Program of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support.

The results of our team’s work over the past 6 months are presented in the report at the link: https://hopeww.org.ua/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/hhfu_report_24.08.2022_en.pdf

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REFERENCE INFORMATION
International Charity Project “Helping Hand for Ukraine” exists since 2015. The Project aims to improve the socio-emotional and psychological state and wellbeing of children with war trauma and their families who witnessed and suffered from the war against Ukraine. The Project trains the trainers to work with the “Children and War: Teaching Recovery Techniques” methodology; provides psychological assistance to children and their parents with war trauma, teaching them skills of psychological self-regulation and self-assistance and techniques of relaxation; fosters cooperation with state social services in order to ensure immediate attention from professionals to cases of mild and severe mental problems as well as constant aftercare and social support. More information about the Project is provided on the website of “HOPE worldwide Ukraine” Charity Foundation.

Contact person for media: Olga Batiuk, mob. +38 050 359 7266 (Viber, Telegram, WhatsApp), olga.batiuk@gmail.com

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In summer 2022, “HOPE worldwide Ukraine” Charity Foundation supported several projects organizing recreation for children affected by the war. This was done in cooperation with the “Caramel” training project (Volovets, Zakarpattia region), “Ya da Vinci” psychological camp (Delyatyn, Ivano-Frankivsk region) and the “GALA CAMP” (Kamianets-Podilskyi , Khmelnytskyi region). The Foundation provided financial aid so that 24 children affected by the war received an opportunity to attend the summer camp.

Children had a lot of fun, they went on guided tours and enjoyed the nature of the Carpathian mountains. They were learning, developing their creative skills, interacting in a team, making friends, playing, and laughing.

The recreational program was complemented by the “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques” program held by the “Helping Hand for Ukraine” project psychologists for all participants of the camps. During therapy group sessions with psychologists, young Ukrainians shared their personal war stories and learned recovery techniques to cope with this difficult life experience.

In total, 220 children attended “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques” therapy course during summer camps. The team of the “Helping Hand for Ukraine” project expresses sincere gratitude to the leaders of all three camps for fruitful cooperation, excellent organization of children’s recreation and especially for their concern, love and care for children in this difficult wartime.

Feedback of some children and parents:

“In the morning, February 24, I woke up from the sound of explosions. My mother came to wake me up and we understood that the war had begun. The first 11 days we spent in the basement of our friends in the Kyiv region. It was difficult, sometimes we couldn’t even go outside to get food. Then my father told us that there were tanks on the streets and street fighting started, so we decided to move to the village in Zakarpattia region. I was very upset because I had never lived in the village before. But we had to stay there for three months. Then we returned to Kyiv. Unfortunately, none of my friends were there, but I was very happy because I finally was at home. After a while, I realized that I can’t get used to the constant sound of sirens, so I asked my mother to send me to a camp to get some rest from it. At the camp, during “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques” therapy sessions, we were taught many useful techniques – how to control our emotions and thoughts, how to overcome nightmares and how to calm down in general. Most of all I liked the topic “Sleep hygiene” and breathing techniques. After these sessions, I became calmer and now I know what to do when I have bad emotions.” Olena (Kyiv)

“The war brought pain into my life, because it separated me from my friends and relatives. When the war started, I was asleep and did not even immediately understand what was happening. At first, we stayed with my family in Kharkiv, but after two weeks we moved to Kamianets- Podilskyi. After all this, I could not relax for a long time. At the “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques” sessions in the camp, I liked the “Screen” technique, as I learned to get some rest from reality, and I learned to be myself. I dream of returning to Kharkiv – my hometown. I’m sad without it, I can’t think of anything else. And I also want the war to end, I want peace to come.” Kyrylo (Kharkiv)

“With the beginning of the war, I lost the opportunity to communicate with my relatives. I felt depressed, it was difficult for me to realize that my former life would never be there again. During “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques” sessions, we were working with obsessive thoughts, and learned to control our emotions. I liked the “Screen” technique, when we “turned off” and “rewinded” traumatic events. I want to walk around my hometown and spend time with my relatives for at least one day. If I were a wizard, I would end this war.” Lisa (Kharkiv)

“My deepest gratitude to everyone involved in the “Ya da Vinci” camp! My daughter attended “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques” therapy course! Thanks to these techniques, she regulated her sleeping, now she does not have nightmares! Thank you very much!” Mother Khrystyna (Mariupol).

“I am the mother of a teenager who attended the camp “Ya da Vinci” and went through “Children and War” program! I am grateful to all the organizers and specialists! My son became calmer, and started to share his thoughts. Before that he kept silent and carried everything inside. Thank you very much!” Mama Solomiya (Mariupol).

“Our deepest gratitude to the Foundation for taking care of our children and the opportunity to get rest in the “Caramel” camp in the Carpathians! Special thanks to the psychologists who worked in the camp with the children. In this difficult wartime, they were able to distract and relax children, and relieve their tension. I will always remember hiking in the mountains, spending the night in tents, and singing near the campfire, and also volleyball tournaments and an educational guided tour to Synevir lake. Once again, we thank “HOPE worldwide Ukraine” for a wonderful rest and recovery for our children – both physical and psychological!” Drogin family

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“Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques” summer therapy courses for children and parents have been completed in Chornomorsk, Khmelnytskyi, Chernivtsi, and Lviv. The program included a lot of discussions about fears.
Fears in childhood are a usual thing. Some children are afraid of darkness, others are afraid of snakes or spiders. But this summer, almost all participants of the therapy sessions mentioned their fear of war, fear of explosions or loud sounds of the warning sirens. They were talking about the loss of their homes and close friends, the death of a pet or even a close person. And these topics were relevant not only for the children, but also for their parents.
In spite of the sadness, pain, and fear, every participant had a desire to free themselves from these heavy emotions and to transform anxiety into inner peace and self-confidence. So, step by step, in the atmosphere of warmth, positivity and trust, while developing new self-help techniques, everyone achieved good results and gained personal victories!

The trainers of the groups for children and parents: Nadiya Hurman and Tetyana Hurman (Odesa region, Chornomorsk), Roman Bilogryvyi and Nataliya Kozak (Khmelnytskyi), Olga Yurtsenyuk, Nataliya Tsymbalyuk and Nadiya Perius (Chernivtsi), Nataliya Mudryk and Olena Petrushkevych (Lviv). We are grateful for their wonderful work and the photos provided.

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On August 22-26, 2022 two “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques” online trainings were held within the frames of the “Helping Hand for Ukraine” Project. 80 new specialists have been trained. Almost all the participants have pedagogical or psychological education, as well as experience in working with children. They are teachers, educators, psychologists, social workers and volunteers from Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro, Odessa, Kherson, Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Kropyvnytskyi, Kryvyi Rih, Rohatyn, Myropillya, Brovary and other cities and villages of Ukraine. Also there were some participants who temporary live abroad – in Germany, Italy, Spain, Czech Republic, and Israel.

The trainings were conducted by the Project trainers and psychologists – Iryna Sukhova and Tetyana Oboyanska. Traditionally, the Project’s team has received a lot of grateful feedback. They hope that in the nearest future the new trainers will start using the acquired knowledge and skills to help children and their parents affected by the war against Ukraine to heal the war trauma.

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During July, psychologists and volunteers, who were trained in “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques” methodology within the framework of the “Helping Hand for Ukraine” project, have continued to conduct therapy sessions for children and their parents in Pereyaslav, Kropyvnytskyi, Chornomorsk, Lviv and other cities of Ukraine.

“Every day, while Ukrainian soldiers defend the freedom and independence of our country, our trainers keep helping families with war trauma,” says Iryna Sukhova, a chief psychologist and the head of the “Helping Hand for Ukraine” project. – Psychologists, social workers , teachers and other specialists from all over Ukraine work hard to balance the psycho-emotional state of children and their parents. They teach them self-regulation techniques, help to cope with difficult memories and thoughts, unbearable nightmares and fears. In times of war, such support is extremely important and necessary, because in such a way, our volunteers contribute to the preservation of the mental health of Ukrainians. The immediate results are shown already after the first therapy session – children and parents mention the improvement in their emotional state, and get additional motivation to continue attending the sessions”.

The photos are provided by the psychologists and volunteers of the project – Alyona Ivashchenko and Alina Bezukh (Pereyaslav, Kyiv region), Natalia Tsumareva and Maryna Sosnovska (Kropyvnytskyi, Kirovohrad region), Lyudmila Moshnyagi and Yulia Kavun (Chornomorsk, Odesa region), Tetyana Melnyk and Nadia Lobas (Lviv).

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On July 4-8, 2022 the trainers’ team of the “Helping Hand for Ukraine” project conducted a 5-day “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques” online training. 40 new trainers took part in the training event. Inquisitive, creative and caring psychologists, volunteers and educators from different cities of Ukraine were learning from certified trainers Iryna Sukhova, Natalia Podolyak and Olena Bozhor.

After the training, the participants shared their impressions. They mentioned high quality, simplicity and availability of educational materials, professionalism of the trainers and effectiveness of the methodology. The participants also voiced their readiness to work in the framework of the project to preserve the psychological health of young Ukrainians and their parents.

We wish success to everyone and victory to Ukraine!

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The “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques” online training for psychologists of the Rokada Charity Foundation was held on July 4-8, as part of the project “Helping Hand for Ukraine”. The trainers – Iryna Sukhova and Natalia Podolyak – have worked with 32 participants, specialists who currently work in Khmelnytskyi, Rivne, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lutsk, Ternopil, Zhytomyr and many other towns and villages of Ukraine.
“Our project cooperates with the Rokada Foundation,” – says Iryna Sukhova. – And we are glad to see an active position of our partner, the desire to learn and increase the professionalism in order to help those who are in dire need because of the war against Ukraine”.

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In June, Antonina Sorochynska and Yulia Nestor held a “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques” therapy course for children 7-9 years old who are internally displaced from Luhansk, Donetsk and Kharkiv regions. Therapy sessions were held in Truskavets as part of the “Helping Hand for Ukraine” project in cooperation with the “Voices of Children” charity organization. The children were actively involved and persistently practiced self-help techniques to overcome unpleasant memories, anxiety, fears, terrible sounds and images in their heads.

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In June the “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques” therapy sessions took place in Truskavets. They were organized for a group of teenagers who moved to this town with their parents from Luhansk, Donetsk and Kharkiv regions. The instructors of the program – Olha Palamarchuk and Maryna Rudneva – worked with the group. Thanks to the warm atmosphere created by the instructors, their professionalism and caring hearts, the participants learned to cope with their emotions, as well as with PTSD symptoms caused by the war against Ukraine. They also worked through and overcame the effects of their traumatic events and also learned special techniques on how to help themselves to deal with stress, intrusive memories and fears.

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In June the team of newly trained instructors held “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques” therapy sessions in Truskavets for internally displaced parents who, during the war, were forced to leave the Luhansk, Donetsk, and Kharkiv regions with their children. It is always painful and difficult for everyone to leave or lose loved ones, and homes, hear alarm sirens and explosions, see destroyed houses, and all the horrors of war… And the self-help techniques that the participants learned during the therapy course came in handy, added inner peace and self-confidence, and faith in the future! We express our gratitude to the instructors of the program – Anzhela Karas and Iryna Pylypenko – for their committed work and care.

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