To give back joy to 400 traumatized Ukrainian kids

After our last report in August, the children and teenagers in our program have entered a new and important stage of their lives — one that requires not only emotional support, but also guidance in making decisions that shape their future. Over the past months, our role has increasingly focused on helping them navigate this transition in a way that respects their individual needs, abilities, and dreams.

Supporting Their Next Steps

As many of them moved into new schools, grades, or educational paths, we worked closely with each child and family to ensure they felt confident and understood:

• their options for school selection,

• the challenges of adapting to new academic environments,

• their own strengths and preferences,

• and the steps needed to plan for the future — whether in Poland or elsewhere.

For the older teens, this also meant conversations about:

• long-term goals,

• vocational choices,

• building independence,

• and imagining a life beyond crisis.

Individualised Guidance

Each young person continues to carry a unique story. Some needed structured consultations to manage school-related stress; others required help in understanding the Polish education system. Several children benefited from sessions focused on career exploration, while younger ones were supported in forming healthy routines and establishing stability.

Throughout these months, our goal has remained the same: to help every young person enter the next stage of life with clarity, confidence, and the sense that they are not alone.

Growing Into Themselves

We have observed a meaningful shift. The children who once arrived frightened and uncertain are now beginning to:

• express their own needs more clearly,

• take responsibility for decisions,

• build new identities,

• and imagine futures rooted in hope rather than fear.

Their growth is visible not only in the choices they make, but also in the trust they place in themselves.

Looking Ahead

As they continue to mature, our work will increasingly focus on:

• strengthening their autonomy,

• supporting educational and career planning,

• and ensuring that each child receives the guidance best suited to their path.

These young people are stepping into a new chapter — and we are honoured to walk beside them.