The “Children and War: Teaching Recovery Techniques” therapy sessions were held in March and April in the city of Horishni Plavni, at the Specialized Secondary School I–III Levels #4. The groups were led by Iryna Hnoiova and Veronika Harahulia — experienced trainers who had completed training and been certified in this methodology. They note that each session was not just a psychological exercise, but an opportunity for children to take a step toward a fulfilling life, even amid the realities of war.

The trainers shared that children responded very warmly to the format of the sessions — after all, it wasn’t a typical lesson, there were no grades, but instead — a space where they could truly be heard. The energizers at the beginning of each session helped children become more relaxed and engaged, reduce internal tension, and build connections with one another.

A certain setup of how each session ended played a special role: children had the chance to speak, share something, or offer a “kind word” to others. It was in these moments that the group truly became a team — where support was more than just a word, it was an action.

One especially touching story was about a boy who had a younger brother with special educational needs, and a mother who suffers from a mental illness. Because of his quiet nature and inner struggle, he often skipped the group tea time and refused sweets. But after a few sessions, for the first time, he asked if he could take something tasty home — for his little brother. This wasn’t just a gesture of care — it was a sign of the warmth beginning to return to his heart.

The trainers say: sometimes the changes may seem small, but it is precisely these changes that mark the beginning of deep healing. It is for moments like these that the program holds such profound meaning.

We are grateful to our long term partners and friends at HOPE worldwide Canada for cooperation. Thanks to them it was possible to hold these therapy sessions. Their support allows us to strengthen psychological resilience of our society and help our communities cope with challenges of the war time.

 The “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques” support groups were held in Sumt at two kindergartens #26 and #24. Unusually, these sessions were not held for children, but for women — mothers, caregivers, and educators.

Today, Sumy remains a hotspot on the map of Ukraine due to the lasting armed aggression of the russian federation, which makes the need for psychological support in the region especially acute. A total of 25 women participated in the therapy course openly engaging in the process of healing and support.

The groups were led by Olha Budianska and Halyna Halytska, both experienced certified trainers in this methodology.

For many it came as a surprise — “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques” is a program designed for children, but it turned out that adults need it and benefit from it just as much. The participants did the exercises aimed at reducing anxiety, relieving stress, and coping with difficult memories — and they repeatedly returned to one simple yet powerful question: How can I provide support for my child if I don’t feel stable myself?

The sessions became a space for open conversation and genuine sincerity. One particularly emotional moment occurred when a participant, while working through memories, shared the pain of losing her husband — a loss she had struggled to accept for a long time. Experiencing this moment in a supportive circle gave her the strength to start speaking about the future again.

The second meeting ended on a warm and memorable note: the participants brought homemade treats — cakes, cookies, and jellies — which they enjoyed together during a cozy tea break. It was no longer just a group — it became a space of trust, where new strength for life was born.

Through such meetings, we learn not only how to support children — but also how to support ourselves, so we can truly be their anchor in a changing world.

These sessions were organized and held by “HOPE worldwide Ukraine” Charitable Foundation within the “Helping Hand for Ukraine” project, with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine and financial assistance from the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Kamianets-Podilskyi became a place of reunion, peace, and hope for children from the city of Melitopol who have experienced the horrors of war. “Helping Hand for Ukraine” project trainers conducted “Children and War: Teaching Recovery Techniques” therapy courses for four groups (43 children in total) at the camp, organized by the Charitable Foundation “SOS Civil Defense Headquarters,” for children from various regions of Ukraine.

For many children, arriving in Kamianets wasn’t just a vacation — it was an unexpected joy of reuniting with classmates and childhood friends with whom they had been separated by the war. Hugs, laughter, and the heartfelt exclamation: “You’re also here?!” created an atmosphere of unity that no therapy could replace.

During the sessions, children didn’t just talk about pain, anxiety, and fear — they learned how to find strength within themselves. Simple yet effective techniques — breathing, visualizing a safe place, muscle relaxation — helped them reduce stress and regain the ability to regulate  their emotions. In this warm circle of support, each child could simply be themselves — not pretending to be strong, but just being with those who understand.

One particularly touching moment stayed in memory for a long time. After a session, one of the trainers found a small stone wrapped in a napkin inside their bag, with a child’s note on it: “So that you also have something of your own, in case you lose everything.” This heartwarming gesture is a reminder that children’s hearts wounded by war are capable of giving great gifts: care, trust, and love.

We are sincerely grateful to our partners for making this initiative possible — and even more grateful to the children, who, despite their own pain and losses, continue to share their light.

This project was created by the “HOPE worldwide Ukraine” Charity Foundation with the support of a grant from the Children’s Resilience Fund: Providing Capacity Building and Funding to Ukrainian Civil Society Organisations in Ukraine. The program is implemented by Crown Agents in Ukraine and Integrity Action.

The content of the news does not necessarily reflect the views of Integrity Action, or Crown Agents in Ukraine.

From March 24 to 26, the trainers of our “Helping Hand for Ukraine” project conducted an inspiring training for young volunteers, in partnership with the Christian charity foundation “VAV Better Future” — our loyal friend and colleague for the third year in a row.

18 participants, most of them from resilient and heroic Zaporizhzhia, took part in the “Children and War: Teaching Recovery Techniques” training. This experience was not only professional but also deeply personal — we worked through our own traumas in order to better understand the pain of others and to stand beside those in need.

We believe in the power of collaboration. Together with the VAV Better Future foundation, we continue to build bridges of trust and service. Last year we:

trained and certified 39 volunteers,
conducted 38 groups as part of the “Children and War: Teaching Recovery Techniques” program.

This year, our joint work is expanding:

Supervisory support from experienced project supervisors,
A series of webinars on psychology and trauma therapy — to enhance the qualifications of those on the frontlines of emotional support.

Together, we are not just organizations. We are a community that believes that even in the darkest times, God works through the hearts and hands of those who serve others.

We thank everyone who was with us during these three days. May the suitcase of knowledge and support you carry with you become a foundation in your service to children and families in cities devastated by the war against Ukraine.

Zhovtneve is a small village in the Khmelnytskyi region. At the local rural school, a new kind of schedule suddenly appeared: alongside regular lessons, sessions with psychologists were added. At first, the children were surprised. Then, they began to look forward to these meetings with excitement. This is how the trainers arrived in the community to conduct the “Children and War: Teaching Recovery Techniques” therapy sessions. As soon as the participants entered the classroom, deep and meaningful work began — touching on the most painful topics.

Orest, 6 years old, listened attentively. He smiled a lot, made jokes… until the final session. That was when he spoke for the first time about what he wanted most for his birthday — to see his father, who had been away for a long time because of the war. Drawings, modelling with clay, and breathing exercises became his tools for coping with emotions that were too difficult to express in words.

Tania, 9 years old, at first simply participated in the sessions. But during one meeting, she unexpectedly shared her distress — a quarrel with her mother. Through the “screen” technique, she was able to rethink the situation and release the anxious feelings it caused.

The children took part in the activities seriously, were happy with their own results, and supported each other. The adults were also happy — the project’s trainers, as well as the parents and teachers who observed the changes in the children.

This project was created by the “HOPE worldwide Ukraine” charity foundation with the support of a grant from the Children’s Resilience Fund: Providing Capacity Building and Funding to Ukrainian Civil Society Organisations in Ukraine. The program is implemented by Crown Agents Ukraine and Integrity Action. The content of the news does not necessarily reflect the views of Integrity Action, or Crown Agents in Ukraine. 

For several years now, children and teenagers in the capital of Ukraine have had the opportunity to restore their inner balance thanks to the “Children and War: Teaching Recovery Techniques” program. Therapy sessions are led by a team of certified trainers — Olha Posternak and Tetiana Holovko — this time held at Kyiv School #321.

At the beginning of 2025, the trainers organized several groups where children aged 8 to 17 learned techniques for managing anxiety, working with traumatic memories, and emotional self-healing. During 7 sessions, each participant discovered simple but effective ways of self-support.

What makes these groups special?
– All the children reported improvements in their emotional and psychological state.
– The groups quickly united into true support teams.
– Even after the sessions ended, teenagers continued to communicate, helping each other cope with difficulties.

Heartwarming healing stories speak for themselves: a boy who was afraid to talk about the loss of his father eventually opened up to the group and shared his fondest memories; a girl suffering from depression found friends again and returned to an active life.

Today, as the war reshapes children’s lives, such initiatives are not just relevant — they are essential.

This project was created by the “HOPE worldwide Ukraine” charity foundation with the support of a grant from the Children’s Resilience Fund: Providing Capacity Building and Funding to Ukrainian Civil Society Organisations in Ukraine. The program is implemented by Crown Agents Ukraine and Integrity Action. The content of the news does not necessarily reflect the views of Integrity Action, or Crown Agents in Ukraine. 

In April 2025, the trainers of the “Helping Hand for Ukraine” project implemented by the “HOPE worldwide Ukraine” Charity Foundation met with the representatives of the “Children and War UK” British charity organization. This event marked an important milestone in their joint efforts toward the psychological rehabilitation of children affected by the war.

Children and War UK is a British charity that develops and implements psychological programs for children who have suffered from wars, disasters, and other traumatic events. Their method, Teaching Recovery Techniques (TRT), enables the rapid and effective provision of psychological assistance to children in crisis situations.

In May 2023, trainers from the “HOPE worldwide Ukraine” took part in the “Children and Grief” training, which is part of the TRT methodology. This program focuses on helping children cope with loss and grief, an especially urgent need in times of war.

Since then, Ukrainian trainers have conducted 32 groups, each consisting of 7 sessions, reaching 342 children who lost parents, friends, homes, or pets due to the war. Through these sessions, the children learned to manage anxiety, improved their sleep, reduced the frequency of nightmares, and experienced emotional relief.

During the meeting, the Ukrainian team shared their experience of implementing the program in wartime conditions, where the themes of loss and coping are particularly relevant. Statistical data presented showed improvements in the children’s psycho-emotional state after completing the program.

The meeting took place in a warm and friendly atmosphere, which encouraged open exchanges of thoughts and future plans. Preliminary agreements were reached on adapting the materials to the wartime experiences of Ukrainian children and working jointly on further program improvements.

“HOPE worldwide Ukraine” remains committed to creating real, sustainable support tools for children affected by war. Collaboration with leading international partners enables the implementation of innovative solutions even under the most challenging circumstances.

The “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques” program is designed to help people overcome psychological difficulties caused by war. But how effective is this knowledge? Does it truly benefit those who receive it? The answers to these questions come directly from participants’ feedback.

Feedback not only helps to evaluate which techniques work best, but also reveals what needs to be added to make the training as useful as possible. It allows the program to be adapted to the real needs of people seeking support and recovery.

Every shared experience, every word of gratitude, and every suggestion for improvement serves as a guide for trainers striving to ensure the training meets today’s challenges. Therefore, feedback is not just participants’ opinions and impressions — it is a crucial tool for enhancing approaches to providing psychological support.

We would like to share the feedback of  the “Children and War. Teaching Recovery Techniques” program participants about their experience gained in autumn 2024.

From March 11 to 13, a “Children and War: Teaching Recovery Techniques” training for trainers was held in Poltava. The event was organized by the “HOPE worldwide Ukraine” Charity Foundation in cooperation with the Poltava M.V. Ostrohradskyi Academy of Continuing Education.

A total of 24 specialists — psychologists, educators, and social workers from Poltava and the Poltava region — participated in the training. All of them work with children and families affected by war, thus the training was highly relevant. The specialists carefully studied new methods for working with psychological trauma, as they frequently receive requests from parents and children for psychological support.

The training was conducted by experienced professionals Natalia Podolyak and Iryna Sukhova, both of whom have extensive experience in working with war-related trauma. The event was coordinated by Khrystyna Kravchenko.

All participants gained the necessary knowledge and skills to share these methods with colleagues and apply them in their work with children. This training represents an important step in strengthening the psychological support system during wartime, helping hundreds of children find inner resources to overcome difficulties and regain a sense of stability.

Participant Testimonials

Tamila Rabukhina:
“For me, any learning opportunity is always relevant because I follow this principle: if I learn something, I will always find a place to apply these skills. The most valuable part was the ‘live collaboration’ — the experience of the trainers and colleagues. The trainers were amazing! Now, it’s simply impossible not to work in this direction!”

Tetiana Vatulina:
“I needed techniques for working with children and teenagers in crisis situations, and I received exactly that! The most useful aspect for me was the structured approach to the work. I enjoyed the training for its clarity, tactfulness, logical presentation, and friendly atmosphere. It feels like a brand-new professional START!!!”

Tetiana Butko:
“This training is 100% relevant because, unfortunately, our present reality has made us anxious, and such training sessions help bring us back to normal life. Everything was useful! You are amazing!!!”

Participants also praised the high level of organization and the support provided by the trainers and coordinator:
“For an organizer, the key is precision, coordination, care, and humanity. This makes you want to learn and create, not just observe!”

This training once again proves that professional growth and teamwork can bring real change, helping children and their families heal.

From March 5 to 7, a “Children and War: Teaching Recovery Techniques.” training was held in Kyiv for future trainers. The training was conducted by experienced trainers Natalia Podolyak, Olena Bozhor, and Iryna Sukhova, with Olha Posternak coordinating the group.

Ten pairs of trainers from Kyiv, the Kyiv region, and Zaporizhzhia participated in the training. The atmosphere was filled with motivation, support, and active engagement in mastering the methodology. Participants deeply immersed themselves in psychological assistance topics, recognizing their significance for children in the Kyiv region as well as for children and adults in the recently de-occupied areas of the Zaporizhzhia region.

Ahead lies practical work with groups, and we wish each trainer strength, patience, and inspiration. May the acquired knowledge help as many children as possible find inner balance and cope with their experiences. Each of you is doing incredibly important work!

Here are some participant testimonials that reflect the atmosphere and impressions from the training:

Tetiana: “It’s great that everything is gathered in one place. Professional. Accessible. Structured. Necessary. Inspiring. Thank you!”

Vadym: “I am incredibly pleased with the universality of the training — this is what makes it truly unique.”

Liubov: “An intensive program with many interesting and effective tools. Everything is clear and well-structured. I am confident that the knowledge we have gained will help many more people.”

These testimonials are yet another proof that the training not only provides knowledge but also builds a strong community of professionals ready to help children.