The war has dramatically changed the lives of millions of Ukrainians, leaving deep emotional scars and exacerbating the need for professional psychological support, especially for those struggling with the consequences of traumatic events each and every day. With this in mind, in March 2025, the NGO Centre of Psychological Help “Confidence” launched the UNICEF project “Hugs For You” with the support of the German government.
Project Goal
By providing quality psychological support and follow-up, the goal is to help children, parents and caregivers, as well as other war-affected adults overcome emotional difficulties and improve their mental health; special attention is on developing stress resistance and strengthening mental health of families in Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts.
Mental health is not about the absence of psychological problems, but about the person’s ability to effectively cope with challenges, adapt to change, and maintain inner balance. That is why the project aims not only to overcome the consequences of trauma but also to unlock each person’s internal resources.
The project’s target audience is quite extensive and includes children and adults, namely:
– internally displaced persons (IDPs)
– persons in difficult life circumstances
– children with special educational needs (SEN)
– children of the military
– parents and caregivers providing care to children
– social work specialists involved with children
– specialists of related professions working with children (doctors, teachers)
– persons in need of psychosocial support
Each category of project participants faces unique psychological challenges, so we have created a flexible support system adapted to every beneficiary’s individual needs.
The project’s online format eliminates geographical barriers and makes psychological assistance as accessible as possible. Regardless of the beneficiary’s location – the frontline zone, the occupied territory or temporary relocation – everyone can get professional support.
Offline support includes individual counselling, parents’ clubs, group meetings, psychoeducational activities, and case management. Personal meetings are of particular value as they enable a safe space where a person can not only receive professional help but also feel emotional support and involvement in the community.
The project’s uniqueness is in its holistic vision of psychological support. All consultations and group meetings, both online and offline, seek to not just to eliminate stress symptoms, but to help people find inner strength, develop adaptive skills, and regain faith in themselves and the future.
The project’s geography is Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts. We purposely chose regions that have long been in the spotlight due to their proximity to the border and the intensity of hostilities. Our goal is to bring psychological support as close as possible to those who need it.
Our ethical principles are zero tolerance for violence, respect for rights, confidentiality, gender sensitivity, and individual approach. Ethical principles are our foundation. Every project participant has the right to respect, safety and professional support, regardless of gender, age, social status or life circumstances.
The expected results include increased psychological well-being, self-help development, improved adaptation, reduced anxiety, and mastery of stress management strategies.
We believe that professional psychological support is not only about recovering from trauma, but also about investing in the future, as each recipient will become more resilient, confident and able to support others.
Together we create a space of safety and support!
The project runs until 19.04.2026
