rebuilding a sense of safety for little Ukrainians

If you ask the average adult to recall their childhood, most will summon happy memories of carefree days spent on playground swings, trips to their grandparents’ village, plenty of friends, along with feelings of joy and freedom. They remember a world that seemed vast and full of wonders, where even the trees felt taller.

It seemed this would always be the case, that every new generation would see childhood as the best period of life. But since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, children have been confronted with the terrifying sounds of bombardment, the absence of parents who are defending the country, or the pain of losing them altogether and the closure of kindergartens and schools. Joyful laughter has been replaced by anxiety, fear, withdrawal, and aggression. They are now facing adult problems and, in many cases, are forced to grow up too soon.

A number of organisations are working to support the little ones and ensuring conditions for a calmer, safer childhood in the midst of the war. Psychologists, underground school teachers, speech therapists, and children’s entertainers are creating spaces that foster growth and development. With support from the German Government,GIZ Ukraine: Resilient Society helps ensure the stability of these institutions across Ukraine. This backing enables professionals working with children affected by Russian invasion to deliver high-quality classes, foster teamwork skills, and reach more young people.

Ukrainska Pravda has gathered stories of initiatives and organisations helping children endure the horrors of war and has spoken with families whose lives have been improved by participation in these support programmes.

here's how schools are operating in basements and specially equipped shelters in Kharkiv

More than 104,000 schoolchildren, including 5,500 first-graders, began the new school year on September 1 – Knowledge Day in Ukraine – in Kharkiv, the country’s largest frontline city. Even though 67% of the city’s educational facilities have been destroyed as the war entered its fourth year, schools continue to function and improve. The number of schools moving from distance learning to a blended approach is rapidly increasing each year. This shift is supported by safe spaces being built and equipped across Kharkiv: the city has an one-of-a-kind metro school, seven underground facilities for children, and four radiation-proof shelters.

‍The Strengthening Urban Resilience in the Areas of Supply Infrastructure and Housing in Ukraine (SUR) project, part ofGerman transition assistance provided on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, is helping the city create comfortable learning conditions in shelters. Thanks to the project, Metro School and LyceumNo. 124, a specialised secondary school whose students began studying in a radiation-proof shelter for the first time this year, received modern furniture and multimedia equipment to support the educational process.

For children in Kharkiv, some schools are among the safest places in the city, where they can feel secure from missiles, drones and guided bombs coming from the front line. Well-equipped classrooms, turning schools into a second home, are essential for children’s emotional and psychological well-being. It is vital that students feel secure and comfortable, able not only to cope with the dangers outside but also to learn, play and enjoy their childhood.

Makieiev explains that the demand for classroom learning in Kharkiv is high. Conducting lessons in specially equipped shelters enables teachers to carry on despite air raids, and provides children with valuable face-to-face communication, now scarce due to the war.

"Children who attended school before the war seem especially happy today as they return to in-person classes," Makieiev said. "Many have been eagerly waiting to see their classmates again, some for the first time since the beginning of the war. It is fascinating to watch how they interact with one another and with their teachers. You can sense their eagerness and need to spend time together, which extends to extracurricular activities as well. The students are even willing to spend the entire day in the radiation-proof shelter just to be able to socialise," says the lyceum's director.

NGO Photosynthesis in Zaporizhzhia helps children and parents with psychosocial support

Zaporizhzhia Oblast is one of the regions that has changed fundamentally since February 24, 2022, the day the full-scale invasion began. Today, parts of the region remain under occupation, fighting continues, yet life goes on in many towns and villages.

According to Yana Kirukhina-Ipatenkova, coordinator of an NGO Photosynthesis project that partners with the Strengthening Communities in War-Affected Regions in Ukraine through Localized Action (EMPOWER) project, the behaviour patterns of most children living in frontline Zaporizhzhia have changed. Many are struggling with social adaptation, as schools mostly operate remotely and there are very few kindergartens, with only one preschool facility functioning in an entire district of the city sometimes.

Since 2024, the NGO Photosynthesis has been providing psychosocial support for children, teenagers, and women, with funding from the German government and the EU. The organisation offers group sessions with psychologists and speech therapists, team-building activities, creative workshops, and sports events. Its main goal is to help integrate teenagers and young people from families in difficult circumstances, particularly those of internally displaced people, into active social life.

"Different activities have been designed for each age group, from 4 to 17, such as training, workshops, and courses," Ms Yana said. "Many of them are focused on helping children cope with stress. We already know how children react during explosions. For instance, after a night of air raids, the little ones can be upset and restless: in the morning, they are in a bad mood, cry and cling to their mothers. This behaviour results from the anxiety accumulated during a restless night. Together with professionals, we have developed a set of steps to calm children and help them regain a sense of normalcy. It is somewhat easier to work with older children because we teach them to talk about their anxieties and fears. Expressing their experiences helps them process what has happened more easily," says Yana, adding that over the two years of the project, staff have received a great deal of positive feedback from the parents.

Here are a few examples:

How psychologists use animated characters to help children

Fear, mood swings, anger, irritability, aggression, and countless "why" questions – these are the emotions and phrases Ukrainian parents are confronted with almost daily, especially during the last four years of the Russo-Ukrainian war.

It can be hard to soothe a child or respond to difficult questions, as the full-scale invasion has taken away Ukrainians’ basic sense of safety and trust in the future.

Caring for mental health, particularly through sessions with psychologists, helps people cope with stress, manage the effects of the war and regain composure. While a typical session between an adult and a specialist involves a conversation in which the client shares their experiences and the psychologist helps them process their emotions, this format is often too challenging for children, especially for young children, and those of early school-age.

To make psychological help more accessible and convenient for children, the NGO Opportunities. Motivation. Media (Academy of Care), in partnership with theGIZ  project "Gender-responsive approaches to mental health and psychosocial support in Ukraine" and a fund supported by the German government, has developed a programme based on an original methodology that enables psychological issues to be effectively tackled online through sessions with animated characters in the MaPanda app – Carrotina, Pascal Whiskers, or Madame Carrot Nutterbuns.

At the heart of the Academy of Care’s approach there are two components: the child’s interaction with an animated character in the app, guided by a specialist, and the involvement of a close adult who picks up on and reinforces the changes at home. Over time, this allows the child and family to internalise knowledge and skills, ensuring lasting results without constant specialist’s support.

"In simple terms, the child plays with the character in the app without even realising that therapy or learning is happening. The games are straightforward and engaging, and they naturally spill over into family life, where adults continue the play, adopt the characters’ catchphrases, and follow the routines that create a supportive, safe environment for growth. With each stage, the child relies less on constant specialist supervision, as they develop their own tools and support. Ultimately, they learn to handle challenges independently," says the Academy of Care.

These stages are supported by a variety of tools: individual, three-way and group calls in the MaPanda app, videos, fairy tales, notebooks, trackers, toys, and games. They integrate smoothly into family routines, making learning and development feel natural and engaging.

However, the character is more than just a cartoon – it is a professional tool. It reduces resistance, builds an emotional bridge, and works alongside a specialist. Each character has its own narrative, so even without a live session in the app, the character remains present through storylines, tasks, familiar catchphrases (such as "Holy Carrot!", "Kissy-Boom-Bang!", "By the leafy tops I swear!", "Meow-Ciao"), and ritual games.

Project Manager Anastasiia Svoboda shares the issues parents of young children most often address to the Academy of Care:  "Children may sleep poorly, experience sudden mood swings, or react differently to familiar situations. Another sign of instability is a change in communication – when a child withdraws, or conversely, wants to talk but doesn’t know how or with whom. In these moments, it is crucial for adults to have simple words and practical tools to support them."

Psychologists note that a major concern for children is their parents’ military service: waiting for a call from the front, being unable to see their loved ones, losing a parent, or waiting for them to return from captivity, or dealing with their status as missing in action.

"Most often, children worry about the safety of their mother or father, and this keeps the whole family under constant stress. At the other extreme is when the war is never discussed at home – then it becomes important to learn how to address it gently. Another difficult topic is death: children who have experienced loss try to make sense of it in different ways and look to adults for answers," says Ms Anastasia.

Another engaging format from the Academy of Care is Carrotina's Film Corner,a series of educational videos featuring the characters, designed to help children understand and talk about sensitive topics: from friendship and mutual respect to embracing differences and taking care of themselves.

The cinema’s narrator is Carrotina. She invites children into the world of her friends’ stories: Pascal Whiskers,Pundik Pandik, and other characters. Each story is inspired by real challenges familiar to children: how to support a friend, what to do when someone teases you, how to navigate differences, and how to tell the difference between pity and genuine support.

In total, thanks to the Academy of Care, 6,000 Ukrainian children have received psychological support. Here are some of their reviews:

Thanks to his participation in the programme and his interactions with Carrotina, Vladyslav began to manage his emotions: he practiced techniques, listened to guidance and became more aware of his feelings.

"That’s another friend who cares about the child and always comes up with something, some stories," said the boy's mother, Yuliia.

Now Vladyslav is less likely to swing from joy to tears and back again, and he manages his emotions more effectively. Some of his fears have eased – he can stay alone in his room, play by himself and doesn’t call for his mother as often. At night, he keeps a box by his bed to "keep bad dreams away", sometimes taking it with him to kindergarten or outside and placing his toys inside.

"I’m thrilled that he’s working on himself," says Yuliia."And, you know, he’s even started to believe in miracles more."

"We had previously tried working with a psychotherapist, but it didn’t help, even with their experience with children. Here, it’s completely different: in a friendly atmosphere, through play, on a first-name basis. It’s as if she’s talking to a friend she trusts – one who can also give her a gentle, magical nudge in the right direction," says Nikol’s mother.

Even during wartime, young Ukrainians can still have the chance to enjoy a happy childhood. The organisations Photosynthesis and the Academy of Care, along with educators in frontline areas, are creating the conditions needed to make this possible.

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