On January 10, 2024, the new specialists of the program “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques” program received the certificates in Kyiv. This group of newly-certified trainers studied in the capital in September 2023. Among them are residents of Kyiv, Brovary, and Zaporizhzhia. In all these cities, the newly-trained conducted “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques” therapy sessions in autumn and winter. They carefully passed on the knowledge, practical exercises and experience gained during the training to the children and adults in gorups. Interestingly, all school psychologists in Brovary now have been trained within the program. The trainers from this group shared that they had been waiting for the opportunity to study for a long time, and now they have a “complete set” in the city.

23 people received “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques” trainer certificates. The participants greeted each other, recalled funny situations that happened during the sessions, and thanked the organizers for the opportunity to study and work using the program. We welcome the new trainers and believe that their further work will bring many healings.

We are grateful to our partners – Kyiv City Teacher’s House, Institute of Social and Political Psychology, Podil District Organization of the Red Cross Society in Kyiv – for their cooperation.

Special thanks to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) for the financial support of our project!

We are publishing the feedback of one of the participants, Larysa Bondarenko (Zaporizhzhia):
“Recently, in Kyiv, as part of the “Helping Hand for Ukraine” project, the friendly team of the CF “Care and Understanding” received their individual certificates of the “Children and War” trainers. We have learned and practiced many healing techniques, theories and practices for working with war trauma in groups for children and adults. The topic of war-related stress is very relevant and serious, and there is a lot of work to be done. The training was conducted by the psychologists of the “Helping Hand for Ukraine” project – Iryna Sukhova, Natalia Podolyak and Tetiana Oboyanska. Thank you for the opportunity to learn effective techniques during the war. Let’s keep working together until the Victory.”

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On December 20-22, 2023, the “Helping Hand for Ukraine” project team has participated in the retreat held in Uzhhorod with the financial support of our long-time friends and partners from “HOPE worldwide Canada”. Due to the chronic stress of the war and after the hard and painstaking work of a psychologist, which among other includes sharing the pain of traumatized people, treating them and giving them strength, it is important for every professional to rest and reload. This is the prevention of professional burnout. That is why the retreat for 10 psychologists and trainers, who are the heart and backbone of our project, was very appropriate and relevant at the end of the year. The participants of the retreat enjoyed the new impressions, got acquainted with the castles and the ancient streets of Uzhhorod and Mukachevo. And also they enjoyed the local cuisine, listened to amazing stories about our ancestors who lived on this land many years ago, relaxed during spa treatments, and like real artists, painted pictures during the “Art and Wine” masterclass.

We are grateful to Anna Lyashenko for organising the event, she took care of everything and accompanied the participants like an angel from the first to the last step. We would also like to thank all the fairies and wizards who drove, treated, waited, taught, and told interesting stories and jokes.

Participants’ feedback.

Iryna Sukhova: “It was incredible to turn off my head and just paint, to reveal my inner potential through the movements of the brush. Everyone created a true masterpiece, beautiful and original in their own way. We also had a lot of live communication. We all live in different cities, have different work schedules and lives. And here we had an opportunity to see each other in person, to hug, talk, and laugh together. We really missed it. We also had an evening as a team – exchanging Christmas gifts, playing board games, talking about the coming year and our own internal resources to overcome this terrible war”.

Olga Posternak: “At a time when military operations are taking place in our country, there are a lot of anxieties, sadness, long-term and exhausting expectations and hopes for victory. So it is very important not to forget to take care of yourself. I am immensely grateful to the project for taking care of my colleagues and for the opportunity to relax my body and soul. The event was unforgettable and full of positive impressions”.

Elena Dorohavtseva: “I am infinitely grateful for these three days of fairytale-like atmosphere, humour, relaxation and interesting experiences!”

Khrystyna Kravchenko: “I am thankful to “HOPE worldwide Ukraine” for the unforgettable moments and impressions of the retreat. Excursions to beautiful places opened up new horizons, allowing us to feel the atmosphere of history and beauty. The art masterclass allowed us to express our creativity and feel the joy of the process. The atmosphere was favourable to the creative process and mutual support. The spa met all expectations, giving a feeling of complete relaxation and energy recovery. This retreat is not just a holiday, but a real journey into the world of joy and unbelievable harmony”.

Natalia Podolyak: “I want to thank you for the fabulous retreat in Uzhhorod! It is so important when the team is taken care of and feels valued and important! The time spent with the team was the time when we could communicate in a friendly atmosphere, laugh, support each other and be inspired by our interaction! Thank you for an unforgettable trip! Such retreats are extremely necessary for us, professionals who live in war and work with human psychological trauma!”

Serhii Serheyev and Yana Serheyeva: “Thank you very much for the opportunity to feel support, meet a friendly circle of colleagues and relax. Unforgettable impressions, appreciation of the country and a charge of cheerfulness and energy are all that is needed to sum up the year, all thanks to you and “HOPE worldwide Ukraine”. I (Yana) am filled with pride that I am a part of a large project that helps children from all over Ukraine!”

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Children love holidays and are always waiting for holiday presents. So, in these difficult times for Ukraine, the team members of “HOPE worldwide Ukraine” and “Helping Hand for Ukraine” project, together with the volunteers from Germany, had the pleasure to support and delight children in three Ukrainian cities.

In Drohobych, Lviv region, the gifts were handed to children whose parents were killed in the war or went missing. These families were gathered at the town hall by the city administration’s department for veterans. At the meeting, Iryna Sukhova, the head and chief psychologist of the “Helping Hand for Ukraine” project, spoke with warm words of support. The children liked the gifts and the festive mood has been successfully created.

The presents were also handed to children from the “Children of War” camp in Kamianets-Podilskyi, Khmelnytskyi region. These kids came to the camp from the “hot war zones” to calm down a bit, reduce stress and anxiety, and get some medical treatment. The organizers planned a whole festive event for them with a performance, after which St. Nicholas handed over the gifts. The children were satisfied and happy.

Another city where the holiday sweets “went” to was Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk region. This is a city that is 2 km from the front line and is bleeding. People there practically live in bomb shelters because they are undergoing daily shelling. And after the Kakhovka reservoir was blown up, they have been living without water for six months. “But despite everything, there is life there! – says Iryna Sukhova. – “And we sent sweets for the children of the city. Let their holiday be tasty and peaceful!”

We sincerely thank our sponsors from Germany! Namely, the owner of the Blue-energy company Christiane Serger, who organized the Brigitte Rusch Vernissage and raised money to help children in Ukraine. And special thanks to Marina Schutz, a person with a big heart, a Ukrainian by birth, who has been living in Germany for more than 10 years and has been actively volunteering and helping those in need in Ukraine since the first days of the war.

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At the end of October 2023, the “Helping Hand for Ukraine” project team, together with the project partner, Poltava National V.H. Korolenko Pedagogical University, conducted a “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques” training for teachers and students of this university. And now the teachers who have completed the training are passing on their knowledge, experience and skills in handling stress of war to students of their pedagogical university.
Currently, the therapy sessions are held in eight groups for about 100 people. Among the group participants are native Poltava residents, those who came to Poltava from other cities and regions of Ukraine, IDPs and young people from the de-occupied territories.

The therapy sessions are held thanks to the financial support of the “Helping Hand for Ukraine” project partner, the Canada Ukraine Foundation.

We sincerely thank our trainers, Nina Atamanchuk, Veronika Sukhomlyn, Tetyana Dziuba, Natalia Honcharova, Yulia Dubovyk, Olena Hniezdilova, Tetyana Fazan, and Angela Pasichnichenko, for their dedication and photos!

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On November 23, Lyudmyla Samus and Olena Zabroda, employees of the Social Services Center of the Myrhorod City Council, launched the “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques” therapy courses in “Slava” Myrhorod Specialized Sanatorium (Poltava region).
The sessions are held for 2 groups of residents of the sanatorium – internally displaced persons who have suffered psychological damage and trauma as a result of living in the territories where hostilities are taking place, as well as due to resettlement.

“During the psychological program, the participants will learn self-regulation techniques, skills of experiencing negative emotions ecologically and regulating feelings,” the Center for Social Services of the Myrhorod City Council wrote on their Facebook page. – “The goal of the program is to teach participants to own their difficult memories of past events and to be able to extract experience from them.

The trainers noted that in order to overcome intrusive memories, the participants use imagination techniques, art-therapy and breathing exercises. Each meeting ends with pleasant communication and a delicious tea party.

The therapy sessions are held with the support of the “Helping Hand for Ukraine” project partner, the Canada-Ukraine Foundation.

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On November 14, “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques” therapy courses started at Valeriy Dotsenko school #5 in Myrnohrad, Donetsk Oblast. The sessions are held in 2 groups for fifth grade students. Hanna Bondareva and Yulia Dobrodieieva, specialists of the school social and psychological service who have been recently trained in the “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques” program work with children.

“At the first session, the participants from our 5-A, 5-B and 5-C classes got to know each other, got acquainted with the program of upcoming sessions, set themselves up for work, and defined the rules that they will follow during the meetings,” wrote Olha Cherkashyna, principal of Valeriy Dotsenko School #5, on the school’s Facebook page. – “The children remembered well the team-building games. A friendly atmosphere that encourages cooperation, mutual support, a shoulder to lean on, an “open” dialogue – all this will help the trainers and the groups achieve their goals within the program.”

The therapy sessions are held with the support of the “Helping Hand for Ukraine” project partner, the Canada-Ukraine Foundation.

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On November 13-17, psychologists and trainers of the “Helping Hand for Ukraine” project Natalia Podolyak and Olena Bozhor conducted “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques” online training. 40 participants learned in theory and practice self-help techniques that are very relevant and useful in the face of stress, pain and loss during the war in Ukraine. All participants were interested, competent, motivated and willing to work for Ukraine. We wish each of them success and good results in their work!

The training was held with support of The Salvation Army organization! We sincerely thank our partner!

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In October 2023, the authors of the program “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques” program and members of the “Children and War” Foundation held a supervisory meeting for the team members of the “Helping Hand for Ukraine” project.
The meeting was attended by: William Yule, author and co-founder of the “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques” program, professor at the Institute of Psychiatry in London, Laura Tomlinson (Timms), clinical psychologist and trainer at the “Children and War” Foundation, and Melinda Edwards, international trainer of the “Children and Grief: Learning Life Skills” project.

The participants discussed the Ukrainian experience of using the “Children and War” program and the rehabilitation of children with war trauma. They also talked about the introduction of a new methodology – the “Children and Grief: Learning Life Skills” program, which is aimed at processing the loss of a loved/close one. Today, this is a very relevant topic that causes a lot of pain and a strong response from children (group participants).

As noted by the trainers from Ukraine present at the meeting, despite the difficulties and tears, children are interested in this topic and are happy to learn the skills of healthy “proper” grieving during the sessions. Thus they receive support and significant emotional relief. The project team is sincerely grateful to their British colleagues who are carefully studying the Ukrainian experience to improve the psychological assistance tools they share.

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The “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques” training took place on October 25-27 in Poltava within the “Helping Hand for Ukraine” project. The training was conducted by project psychologists Iryna Sukhova and Tetiana Oboyanska. “The 21 participants are teachers and students of the Poltava National V.H. Korolenko Pedagogical University” says Iryna. – “It was in the premises of this university that we conducted the training. The traditions of the Ukrainian people were all around us, the spirit of the invincible Cossacks, the atmosphere of the most beautiful and cheerful girls. Together we studied, played, and enjoyed the resources and live communication. And at the end of the training, the participants sang the song “Chervona Ruta” as a sign of gratitude. It was incredibly inspiring! It is also very important that children in the Poltava region will now receive access to recovery techniques.”

The training was made possible thanks to the financial support of our partner, the Canada Ukraine Foundation.

Feedback from the participants.

Valentyna Berezan: “10 out of 10. Professional, comfortable, informative. Many thanks to the trainers for productive training, and to “HOPE worldwide Ukraine” for the incredible “Helping Hand for Ukraine” project and the opportunity to participate”.

Natalia Sulaieva: “10 out of 10. Highly professional trainers made my mind work, my heart flutter with joy, my soul sing. I hope that the outcomes of the “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques” program will be high, the group participants will be happy, and Ukraine will be peaceful! Thank you very much!”

Olga Palekha: “Very informative training, which maintains a perfect balance between theoretical knowledge and practice-oriented techniques. Special thanks to the trainers for their high professionalism, patience and attention to everyone.”

Lilia Kononenko: “In professional terms, the training is invaluable. Thank you for your honorable and useful work. I even received something that I did not intend to get – not even the key to the problems, but the principle by which to find these keys! Thank you!”

Tetiana Dziuba: “I thank the trainers for their wonderful, creative and professional work. I felt an open space, the depth of the techniques that were performed during the work. The desire to implement and share this program with children and their parents.”

Inna Baranets: “I can give the training 100 points on a ten-point scale. In today’s fast-paced world, participation in the training is like a breath of fresh air! It is extremely important to learn, know and be able to help yourself and others. Thank you for these three days! I want more!”

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Sofia is 11 years old. She is an internally displaced person from the city of Kramatorsk, Donetsk region. At the “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques” therapy sessions the girl was sociable, easily joined the group, performed all the tasks with interest, and most of all she liked to draw. She commented on some of her drawings, saying that she missed her room and her friends with whom she loved to play on the playground in Kramatorsk.

The trainers noticed that in most of her drawings, the girl drew a military figure, which seemed to be further away from all the others. When asked who it was, Sofia began to cry and through her tears she told them about her father. One of the trainers suggested that she move a little further away from the group to talk and calm down, but the girl refused. She said that it was very difficult for her, but she wanted to speak in front of the group because she was holding it back at home and not crying not to upset her mother.

It turned out that Sofia’s father went to war at the beginning. Sometimes he doesn’t call for several weeks, which makes her mother cry at night, and she, Sofia, thinks her father is dead. It also happens that when her father calls, she hears the sounds of explosions in the phone, and it scares her a lot. Sofia remembers the day her father was sent off to war and she is very worried that it could be their last meeting.

When she drew her traumatic memory, she depicted a large figure of her father, and everything around him was completely hostile: black clouds in the sky, explosions along the road. For a long time, Sofia cried and could not think of a way to transform her drawing. The group members suggested that she tries to remember what she liked to do with her father and draws it. Since she loved watching the fireworks that her father used to launch into the sky on her birthday and New Year’s Eve, she decided to turn the clouds and explosions in the drawing into fireworks. She said that it was her father coming home after a victory, and the fireworks symbolized the same celebration that her father used to arrange for her.

Photos are provided by the trainers of the “Helping Hand for Ukraine” project Natalia Hrebinna and Zinaida Horyachkivska who conducted “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques” therapy groups in the summer of 2023. Therapy sessions were held in Topoli village, Khashchuvate village, including the Khashchuvate Lyceum of the Haivoron community, and Moshchene village, in Holovaniv district of Kirovohrad region. We are grateful for the financial support of our partner – the OutcomesX social outcomes marketplace and UBS Optimus Foundation.

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