The Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) continues to provide grant support for the development of a psychological assistance program for children affected by war trauma in Ukraine as part of the “Helping Hand for Ukraine” project. This project trains psychologist-trainers to work with children and adults affected by war trauma using the unique methodology “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques”. The project is implemented by the “HOPE worldwide Ukraine” Charity Foundation with the support of Canadian partners, HOPE worldwide Canada.
The grant is for 16 months (from September 2024 to December 2025) years. During this time, 4 trainings will be held for 80 trainers, and 200 group training sessions for children and adults in the “Children and war. Teaching Recovery Techniques” methodology. New trainers will conduct sessions as part of their certification process. Trainers who completed training and certification in 2023–2024 will also work with children and adults across Ukraine.
Volodymyr Yermakov, President of the “HOPE worldwide Ukraine” Charity Foundation, shares: “The project team is sincerely delighted to have the opportunity to continue its work and expresses its gratitude to our partner, the Canada-Ukraine Foundation, for their support. This partnership provides a sense of stability to our organization during these uncertain times. Living and working under the conditions of war makes external support and reliable partners invaluable. It not only instills confidence in the future but also motivates our team to work with maximum dedication. Every contribution and every opportunity we receive is a new step toward helping children affected by the trauma of war. We are doing everything possible to use this support effectively to provide psychosocial assistance to children, creating conditions for their emotional recovery and a better future”.
Iryna Sukhova, the head of the Project’s training team, adds: “We are especially grateful to CUF for their trust and continued collaboration, which enables us to implement vital projects. Due to the traumatic and painful events associated with the prolonged war against Ukraine, the need for psychological assistance continues to grow. Every day, we witness the impact of the trauma of war, but at the same time, we see positive changes in the psychological and emotional well-being of children during and after completing our courses. We receive heartfelt words of gratitude and warm feedback from parents, affirming the importance of this work. Thanks to the compassionate people supporting the “Helping Hand for Ukraine” project, we work with unwavering dedication, bringing hope and a chance for a fulfilling future to our children”.
Since the russian federation’s 24 February 2022 full-scale war against Ukraine, the number of people in need of humanitarian aid and protection increased from approximately 3 million people (since 2014) to nearly 18 million, and hostilities and fighting spread from the east across the country. In 2022-2023, millions of Ukrainians endured intense hostilities, which killed and injured thousands of civilians, forced millions from their homes, destroyed jobs and livelihoods, and left many struggling to access food, water, health care, education, a safe place to live and other essential services. Authorities reported an estimated 15 million Ukrainians to need psycho-social support because of the war. WHO also concluded that at least 9.6 million people may have mental health conditions after being exposed to the horrors of fighting and hostilities. From overcoming war trauma to social isolation to daily struggles without power and heating to displacement-related challenges, and more, the consequences of the war are expected to cause mental health problems for at least five years after the war ends.
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 framework of the “Helping Hand in Ukraine” project, implemented by “HOPE worldwide Ukraine” Charity Foundation.
The expertise of the “HOPE worldwide Ukraine” Charity Foundation includes working with the trauma of war and PTSD since 2015; providing therapy for children and adults, including internally displaced persons (2015–2018) and those residing in the “gray” conflict zones (2019–2022); delivering therapy to children, adults, and families of internally displaced persons during the war (2022–2024); training and supervising psychologists, volunteers, and educators under the “Children and War: Teaching Recovery Techniques” program; and collaborating with volunteer and charitable organizations, social services, and educational institutions.
