Kharkiv Region: Systematic Psychosocial Support for Children, Families, and Communities
In 2025, Kharkiv Region remained one of the most challenging regions due to a combination of factors: the constant threat of shelling, internal displacement, the hosting of internally displaced persons, and the exhaustion of communities living under prolonged stress.
In partnership with UNICEF Ukraine, the NGO “Responsible Citizens” worked simultaneously with several groups: children who had experienced traumatic events, parents who had lost their support resources, and community professionals who themselves were living under constant stress.
“Child-Friendly Spaces and mobile teams became key instruments for accessing assistance. The focus was placed on stabilizing the psycho-emotional state, ensuring continuity of support, and creating safe environments even under unstable conditions. For many families, this work became an important element of survival and recovery,” comments Olena Khvatynets, Project Coordinator in Kharkiv Region.
The activities were carried out within the framework of the UNICEF Ukraine project “Strengthening Community Capacity to Deliver Essential Protection and Resilience Services in Kharkiv, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia Regions,” implemented by the NGO “Responsible Citizens” with the support of the Government of the United States of America.
Більше новин
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“I was born during a war and lived to see another one”Nina Pavlovna lives in a settlement in the Pokrovsk district of Donetsk region, a few kilometers from the front line. She lives alone, without family. Her only support is a former student who told her about a multi-purpose cash assistance program implemented by the NGO "Responsible Citizens" with support from Mercy Corps and funding from the UK government.
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How Residents of Frontline Communities Assess their Readiness for a Possible EscalationOur team conducted anonymous surveys on social media to better understand how prepared people from communities near the front line are for a potential escalation. More than 720 people took part. According to the survey results, 67% of respondents said they do not have the financial means to rent housing in case of evacuation.
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We sent 140 kg of humanitarian aid to the Kharkiv RegionThanks to the joint efforts of Nova Poshta Humanitarian and the NGO “Responsible Citizens,” more than 140 kg of humanitarian aid has been delivered to t...
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‘Responsible Citizens’ Board Head joins mental health events led by Olena ZelenskaOlga Kosse participated in events dedicated to World Mental Health Day in Kyiv.
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How support helps Yulia and her children start a new lifeYulia and her four children were evacuated from the occupied city of Dniprorudne. The forced relocation changed everything— a new city, no job, and an uncertain future. "I mostly try to manage on my own," Yulia shares. She cannot leave her youngest child unattended, and kindergartens are not operating, making it impossible to return to work for now.
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“Responsible Citizens” NGO joined the Forum on supporting Family-Based Child Care in Kryvyi RihThe event became an important platform for discussing how every child can grow up in a caring family environment rather than under institutional care.
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Art therapy as a path to recovery: how Alona helps children through creativityIn these photos, you can see Alona, an art therapist from our team, who works in the northern part of Donetsk region. As part of a mobile brigade, she visits famili...
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More than 100 families from Myrnohrad received support thanks to “Responsible Citizens” NGO"Your efforts for the safety of children deserve the utmost respect," — these words of support are most often heard by families who seek help from our specialists.