Educational forum “Points of Support”: How to support students and teachers in times of ongoing challenges

A two-day educational and resource forum, “Points of Support,” took place in Dnipro, bringing together educators from across Ukraine. The main goal of the event was professional collaboration to find effective solutions for students’ psychological resilience and the educational process as a whole.

Today, teachers not only educate but also help students cope with the consequences of prolonged stress. Therefore, it is essential to maintain emotional balance, learn to manage one’s emotions, and preserve a positive atmosphere in school communities.

For the NGO “Responsible Citizens,” this forum was an opportunity to share its own experience. For several years, we have been developing art therapy and stress-relief techniques in Child-Friendly Spaces, which operate in four eastern regions of Ukraine. These practices are also actively used in the organization’s educational projects.

“Over the past year, more than 2,000 educators have attended our training sessions designed to help teachers better understand their psychological needs and work with children in stressful conditions. The demand for such programs is only growing: in January and February, we were able to conduct special training sessions for 250 educators, despite receiving over 500 applications,” says Olena Bieloliptseva, head of educational projects at “Responsible Citizens.”

“Responsible Citizens” will continue this work in 2025, as its effectiveness has already been confirmed by results and participant feedback. The knowledge and practical solutions gained during the “Points of Support” forum will be valuable for educators who support students in challenging realities every day.

The event was supported by World Vision International.

A reminder that in 2024, “Responsible Citizens,” together with World Vision International, implemented two large-scale educational projects that reached over 25,000 participants—the highest number since 2022.