Since 2023, our Foundation has supported 40 teenagers (10-17) at the StaraBasan school for vulnerable youth-among the first Chernihiv communities occupied at war's outset. Uprooted, impoverished, and grieving parental loss (20% orphans), they face interrupted schooling and shelling fears without mental health care. Through weekly workshops-creative expression, peer support, mindfulness-and individual therapy, we soothe trauma, rebuild resilience, and help them envision life beyond survival.
In rural Chernihiv, teens at the StaraBasan school for vulnerable youth endure acute neglect: no child psychologists or trauma counselors means pleas for help go unanswered for weeks, if at all. Uprooted from lowincome or orphaned families, they struggle daily for food, warm clothing, and school supplies. Over75% exhibit PTSD-nightmares, panic attacks, emotional numbing-and without timely intervention risk chronic depression, dropout, and lifelong isolation.
Through weekly 90-minute group workshops on mindfulness, peer support, conflict resolution, and creative expression, we foster social bonds and teach coping strategies to ease emotional distress. In parallel, 60-minute individual trauma-informed counseling (CBT and narrative methods) processes each teen's trauma, reduces anxiety, and builds personalized resilience. Our approach is low-cost, scalable, and rooted in proven Ukrainian trauma recovery models tailored to war-affected youth.
- Improved Mental Health: Measurable reductions in anxiety, PTSD, and stress symptoms based on trauma support models. - Strengthened Social Connections: Group sessions foster peer networks and reduce isolation. - Educational Engagement: Better emotional regulation supports school attendance and academic success. - Community Empowerment: Training for local staff ensures sustainability and program replication.
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