Enhancing Capacities of National and Local Stakeholders to Provide Psychological Support and Social Protection to Children

With the ongoing war, Ukrainian children and their families have endured years of escalating violence, displacement, and other traumatic experiences. The scale of destruction and the large number of civilian casualties caused by the war continue to exacerbate the humanitarian crisis on the ground, as hostilities have forced millions to flee the country or move to safety within Ukraine's borders. Children are deeply traumatized by violence, the loss of friends and relatives, and/or long periods of separation from them. Schools, hospitals and other civilian infrastructure on which they depend have been damaged or destroyed. The general chaos generated by the war, including frequent air raid alerts and disruptions to the provision of basic utilities and services such as electricity, heating and water supply, has only worsened the situation and increased persistent stress levels. Under these conditions, access to professional psychological support and quality social services is essential to mitigate possible long-term effects on the well-being and development of young Ukrainians. 

The project envisages supporting the National Social Service of Ukraine (NSS) and its regional departments in strengthening their tools and capacities to co-ordinate, support, and monitor the provision of services to children affected by war. It offers qualification upgrades to professionally trained social workers and psychologists to expand their skills and enhance their knowledge in helping minors build resilience and better navigate a highly challenging environment. In co-operation with local authorities, the project helps to set up and ensures the continuous functioning of specially equipped rooms in communities across Ukraine, where children and their parents can receive a broad range of support and assistance. By enabling the proper functioning of the psychosocial support system, these project interventions will help reduce the impact of war-related trauma on younger generations of Ukrainians.