Supporting refugees on Ukrainian borders

Ukrainians are currently living through their harshest winter since the full-scale invasion in 2022. Daily attacks on already fragile infrastructure have left hundreds of thousands of people without power or heating for days at a time, just as temperatures plummet as low as -19°C. In many cities, power cuts now last as long as 22 hours, leaving families to face the dark and the cold without heat, electricity, or running water.

Because of your support, IsraAID is on the ground, working to ensure that families are not left to face this freezing reality alone. This includes protecting those who keep essential services running under constant fire. For example, we recently completed a major initiative training 760 railway workers across nine provinces in life-saving first aid. For these workers - who are often the first on the scene after infrastructure strikes - these skills are the difference between life and death. We recently heard from Maryna, a worker in Zaporizhzhia, who used her training to save a man’s life during a drone attack, keeping him stable until medics could arrive 90 minutes later.

This winter resilience is built on the foundation of the long-term systems we’ve created together. To date, we have installed more than 100 water supply and treatment units and rehabilitated dozens of boreholes, equipped with advanced "power wall" systems to ensure that even during total blackouts, clean water continues to flow. Meanwhile, our network of over 100 trained psychologists continues to provide critical mental health support in hospitals across the country, and our "Quokka Hubs" remain warm, safe havens where children can gather to process their emotions through art and play, away from the chaos outside.

Anna, from our team in Kyiv, shared in a recent video (link below) that the support of our global community matters now more than ever. Thank you for standing with us and for ensuring that, even in the depths of winter, the people of Ukraine are not forgotten. 

Links:

• https://www.facebook.com/reel/2101591270652776

As the new school year gets underway in Ukraine, our "Resilience Space" program is working hard to equip educators with the mental health tools they need to support their students.

This year, we've partnered with local organizations to roll out a comprehensive training program focusing on stress management, self-regulation, and practical activities for shelters. We've already trained nearly 300 staff members from 17 schools, with 31 educational institutions now participating in the program.

We've also designed special "alert backpacks" that teachers can grab on their way to the shelter. They're filled with tools like board games and a psychological support card game to keep students engaged and calm, even during long alerts.

One of the most powerful examples of this program's impact comes from a school community that was forced to relocate from occupied Melitopol. The staff re-established their school entirely underground in Zaporizhzhia to keep students safe. We held a special two-day intensive training for the staff, who described it as a "huge support." They told us they now feel "much better equipped to care for themselves and be there for the pupils in a more professional way." With their new skills, they organized one of only two school-based summer camps in the entire region!

In August, we also brought together 40 educators from across Ukraine for our third annual Best Psychosocial Practices in Education Forum. They connected with colleagues, shared experiences, and collaborated on long-term, sustainable psychosocial solutions for the national education system.

Thanks to your support, more school communities are creating safe and resilient environments for thousands of children navigating this new academic year.