Emergency in Ukraine - Immediate Relief Assistance

As part of Soleterre ETS’s ongoing commitment alongside UNICEF and the Government of Norway, the “Strengthening Pediatric Rehabilitation in Eight Ukrainian Hospitals” project brings vital support to children injured by the conflict. Operating at hospitals in Odessa, Mykolaiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Sumy and Chernihiv, this initiative empowers local teams to deliver high-quality, continuous care without forcing families into costly and risky travel.

Over the past six months, we have:

• Built local capacity: Master-trainer workshops in Kyiv and Lviv equipped nearly fifty physiatrists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and nurses with advanced rehabilitation techniques. These trainers have cascaded practical skills, such as gait re-education, hydrotherapy protocols and psychosocial support, to frontline hospital staff.

• Delivered essential equipment: Hydrotherapy pools, rehabilitation beds, therapy tables and adaptive play materials were installed on-site to transform unused corners of each hospital into child-friendly rehab units. These spaces now host daily sessions where injured children relearn movement, play and social interaction.

• Ensured holistic care: In collaboration with UNICEF’s mental-health specialists, each hospital has adopted integrated pathways that blend physical exercises with age-appropriate psychological support. Group play therapy and individual counseling help children process trauma, while family education sessions teach caregivers how to reinforce progress at home.

One inspiring story comes from Kharkiv, where 10-year-old Olena arrived with a serious leg fracture and post-traumatic stress. Under the guidance of a newly trained pediatric physiotherapist, she progressed from assisted standing to independent walking: first beside parallel bars, then along the ward corridor. Meanwhile, play-based counseling helped Olena draw and narrate her experience, transforming fear into resilience. Today, she visits the rehab unit with a bright smile and a backpack full of drawings for the staff who cheered her on.

Despite ongoing challenges (intermittent power cuts, strained supply chains and the ever-present stresses of operating near front-line areas)our local partners have shown remarkable adaptability. Backup generators keep therapy pools warmed; mobile kits ensure that equipment repairs happen quickly; and a rotating schedule of trainers guarantees that no hospital goes unsupported when staff must relocate for safety.

Looking ahead to our next update in December 2025, we will deepen our focus on remote supervision (enabling master trainers to mentor hospital teams via tele-rehabilitation tools) and expand community outreach so that even children unable to reach hospitals can benefit from guided exercises at home.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to UNICEF, the Government of Norway, and every health-worker and volunteer whose dedication powers this project. Together, we are rebuilding hope, mobility and childhood for Ukraine’s youngest survivors—one hospital, one therapist, one child at a time.