By Sarah Slimp | Individual Donor Manager
Spring Blooms for Children in Sumy
This spring, your support helped children and families across the Sumy region find safety, connection, and moments of childhood amid the ongoing realities of war.
Between February and May, Voices of Children reached 1,684 children and parents, provided 123 individual psychological consultations, and facilitated 269 psychosocial group sessions. Through our center in Sumy and regular outreach visits to neighboring communities, children and families received consistent access to psychological support, creative programming, and opportunities to build resilience.
Children participated in psychological groups such as My Superpower, The Magical World of Emotions, Making Friends with Stress, Safe Space, and The Fairy Tale: The Magician of My Inner World, where they learned to understand their emotions, build resilience, and strengthen relationships with others. Psychosocial programs including Cartoon Land, Eco Club, and The Voice of Fairy Tales helped children connect with peers, explore their feelings, and develop a sense of belonging.
Creative activities continues to be at the heart of our work. Through art workshops, Easter-themed activities, candle-making sessions, and other hands-on projects, children found opportunities to express themselves, build confidence, and simply enjoy being children.
The impact of these programs can be seen in the words of the children themselves. One participant in the My Superpower group reflected:
“Recently, I got into an argument with a boy from another class. Before, I would have thought he stepped on my foot on purpose. But this time I took a breath first. Then he said he hadn't meant to... and that was it.”For our psychologists, moments like this represent meaningful progress: a child learning to pause, regulate emotions, and respond differently to conflict.
Children often speak openly about the realities of growing up during war. During one activity, a specialist shared candies from her own childhood. After hearing the story, one girl quietly remarked:
“Our parents were lucky. There was no war when they were children.”
At the same time, children continue to show remarkable resilience, humor, and hope. Five-year-old Kyrylo shared:
“I am happy when we defeat the Russians, and when a girl kisses me, and when I kiss her.”
Families also shared the impact of receiving support. One mother whose son attended individual counseling told our team:
“People like you are so important for communities near the border. Thank you for teaching us how to take care of ourselves.”
Throughout the spring, our team also worked with parents and educators, offering workshops that promoted wellbeing, stress management, and self-care. Regular outreach visits ensured that children and families in surrounding communities could access support close to home.
Because of your generosity, children in Sumy continue to have access to professional psychological support, trusted adults, creative outlets, and safe spaces where they can heal, grow, and connect with others.
Thank you for your compassion, solidarity, and commitment to Ukrainian children. Together, we are ensuring that no child is left alone with the experience of war.
Links:
By Sarah Slimp | Individual Donor Manager
By Sarah Slimp | Partnership Development Manager
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