A Cycle of “Children and War” Sessions Has Been Completed in Vinnytsia

In July and August, a cycle of psychological support sessions based on the “Children and War: Teaching Recovery Techniques” programme was completed in Vinnytsia as part of the “Helping Hand for Ukraine” project.

The participants were children who had experienced displacement, lived through hostilities, or were from military families. The sessions took place at a collective accommodation facility for internally displaced people in Vinnytsia. 

The sessions focused on helping children better understand their emotional state and develop practical techniques for coping with the effects of war-related stress. An important part of the work involved addressing difficult memories and learning ways to respond to strong emotions.

According to the trainers, the children’s attitudes toward difficult memories gradually changed throughout the sessions. While these memories initially triggered strong emotional reactions, after learning and practising the techniques, participants were able to respond to them with less emotional distress.

One example of this change was a girl who had been forced to move from Kherson to Vinnytsia with her mother. Her father serves in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which caused her to worry about him and experience frightening dreams. At the beginning of the sessions, she was passive and spoke very little. Over time, she became more open to communication, made friends, and participated more actively in the exercises. By the end of the programme, the trainers observed an improvement in her overall emotional and psychological state.

Participation in the programme gives children an opportunity not only to receive support during the sessions, but also to develop techniques that they can use in everyday life. These skills can help them cope with fear, anxiety, emotional tension, and difficult memories.

The cycle of sessions in Vinnytsia was part of the work of HOPE worldwide Ukraine to expand access to psychological support and practical recovery tools for children affected by the war.

We thank our partners for the opportunity to continue this work and support children who need psychological assistance.

About the Project

“Helping Hand for Ukraine” is a charitable project of HOPE worldwide Ukraine through which children and young people receive psychological support based on the “Children and War: Teaching Recovery Techniques” programme.

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This project was created by HOPE worldwide Ukraine thanks to a grant from the Children’s Resilience Fund: Providing Capacity Building and Funding to Ukrainian Civil Society Organisations in Ukraine. The programme is implemented by Crown Agents Ukraine and Integrity Action. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views of Integrity Action and Crown Agents in Ukraine.