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.
