Recovery Camps for Ukraine's Children

We would like to share the story of Iryna and her son Danylo from Chernihiv, who recently attended one of our psychological recovery camps.

After Iryna’s husband was killed during a combat mission, both mother and son withdrew into themselves. Grief left them feeling isolated and misunderstood. “After my husband’s death, we closed ourselves off. It felt like no one could truly understand what we were going through,” Iryna shared. They came to the camp with one hope — to feel that they were not alone and that other families carried the same pain.

For Iryna, the group sessions with psychologists became a turning point. “During the group meetings, I felt comfortable for the first time in a long while. I was able to open up and realized that I have to keep living for my child,” she said. The safe, professionally guided environment helped her begin processing her grief and regain emotional strength.

For Danylo, the camp’s structured program — workshops, creative activities, and excursions — restored a sense of joy and curiosity. “Danylo came alive again,” Iryna noted. Surrounded by peers who understood his experience, he was able to reconnect, participate, and simply enjoy being a child.

“We left the camp feeling supported, with new hope for the future and with one shared dream — that the war will end as soon as possible,” Iryna said.

Stories like Iryna and Danylo’s show why psychological recovery programs are not just short-term breaks — they are essential spaces where grieving families begin to rebuild stability, resilience, and connection. Your support makes it possible to provide professional psychological care, safe environments, and structured recovery programs for families who are learning how to live again after profound loss.