Ukraine: Trauma aid and therapy for children from war zones
Nearly half of all children in Ukraine suffer severely from the psychological consequences of the Russian war of aggression. Terre des Hommes partner organization "Voices of Children" provides child-friendly therapies.
“My favorite toy is a dinosaur,” Sofiia reports. “When the explosions happened at night, I squeezed it really tight. I was scared.”
Sofiia is five years old. Her home is in the Zaporizhzhia Oblast – a region that is among the most fiercely contested areas of the war in Ukraine. Because her hometown was also shelled and bombed, she fled to western Ukraine with her mother, Liliia. "I miss my grandma and grandpa... They're still in Zaporizhzhia," says Sofiia.
Three years of childhood in war
For more than three years now, Russia has been waging a devastating war of aggression across Ukraine. At least 600 children have been killed and over 1,700 injured. Hundreds of thousands have lost family members, experienced bombings, and been displaced from their homes. Nearly half of all children show signs of psychological damage and trauma.1
"Many have experienced such traumatic events that even adults would find it difficult to talk about them. We try to help them process all of this better."
Levkovych works for Terre des Hommes partner organization "Voices of Children," which operates 16 therapy centers in western Ukraine. Here, children are given the time and space to express themselves and heal their psychological wounds. Individual and group therapies are offered, including creative painting, singing, crafts, puppetry, and theater. Parents and caregivers can also find support here.
Psychotherapist Inna Knyazeva describes the methodology: “Creative activities go hand in hand with therapy sessions. It’s important to talk about what a child has drawn, for example, how they see the picture, and how it makes them feel. The pictures are the basis on which we can build our conversations. If overwhelming emotions arise during the process, we can help them cope with them.”
A safety net for wounded children's souls
In total, Voices of Children has been able to help 15,000 children and 7,000 adults since 2022 alone – including Sofiia and her mother: “The children relax here, draw and do what they love. We are learning to feel joy again – despite the harsh reality,” says Liliia.
Because the need far exceeds capacity, the psychologists and therapists train others; for example, they train youth leaders and teachers to recognize signs of psychological distress and trauma and to help affected children. Over time, Voices of Children aims to build a stable safety net of psychological support. And to keep a promise: no child, the organization states, should be left alone with the experience of war.
¹ Future Index pilot study, initiated by the Olena Zelenska Foundation
Download or order the magazine No. 2 from 2025, "Life Without Fear," for free now!
In it you will learn more about projects in the field of trauma support and therapy.
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