By Sarah Slimp | Partnership Development Manager
Dear GlobalGiving partners,
Our Sumy Center has been filled with moments of hope, growth, and connection this summer. Over the past three months, Voices of Children psychologists and psychosocial specialists have continued to provide steady, individualized, and group-based care for children and parents affected by war. Thanks to your support, we’re creating safe spaces where healing, learning, and joy can thrive.
At a Glance (3 months)
Group programs:
Monthly reach:
New Memories and First Mobile Brigade Trips
Throughout the summer and early fall, our Sumy Center continued to be a place of creativity and connection. Children took part in the psychosocial program “The Voice of Fairy Tales: Getting to Know Emotions” and the psychological group “My Superpower,” learning to recognize, express, and manage their emotions. Alongside these, our psychologists led creative workshops such as “Magic Drops,” “Plasticine Art,” and the always-popular film club, giving children a safe space to explore imagination and friendship.
The Voice of Fairy Tales program concluded in August with heartwarming changes in children’s confidence and communication. Through storytelling and play, they began to share emotions more freely and show empathy toward others. One touching example was the friendship between Artem and Yegor—two boys who met at the center and helped each other overcome shyness. “Artem was so afraid of being late that we came early,” shared one mother, while another noted, “Your colorful exercises help my daughter fall asleep.”
Supporting Teachers and Families
Our work in Sumy also continued to reached local educators. Psychologists led sessions for teachers of Sumy Secondary School No. 9 and the Sumy Special School, including a creative workshop titled “Unexpected Self-Portrait.” Teachers described the experience as deeply restorative, a rare chance to relax and reconnect before the new school year.
At the “Firefly” Kindergarten, we held a parent-child session called “Hugs,” helping families rebuild emotional closeness and rediscover comfort in physical connection. “Now our family will have different hugs every time,” one mother smiled.
In September, we launched “Fairy Tales: Enchantresses of the World ‘I,’” a new preschool program fostering empathy and a positive self-image. Teenagers joined team-building sessions that encouraged trust and belonging, while our newly equipped mobile brigade made its first visits to the Kosiv community, bringing art therapy workshops to children in remote villages who rarely have access to psychological support.
Stories of Change
The impact of these programs shines through in small, powerful moments. Veronika, age 16, arrived in Sumy after fleeing a destroyed border village. Although at first she was withdrawn and unsure of herself, over time she became confident, made new friends, and decided to study nursing. Another girl Karina received an easel from Voices of Children just before her grandmother’s birthday and proudly said she would use it to create a painting as a gift.
And then there are the words that remind us why we do this work:
“I don’t want to leave here. Can I live here? There’s a sofa and a pillow! It’s so cool, and there’s LEGOS!”— One of our participants
A Place Where Healing Begins
From first friendships to calmer bedtimes, healing is taking root in Sumy. Each child who laughs, creates, or dares to dream again shows that safety and care can transform lives. And it is your support that makes this possible. Thank you for standing with Sumy’s children and families as they rediscover stability, confidence, and joy.
With deep gratitude,
The Voices of Children Team
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