Psychosocial Support for Children Affected by the War in Zaporizhzhia Oblast
In 2025, Zaporizhzhia Oblast faced multiple challenges simultaneously: its proximity to the frontline and its role as a host region for people displaced from temporarily occupied and frontline areas. In this context, psychosocial support was not an additional service but a basic necessity.
Within the framework of cooperation with UNICEF Ukraine, the team of the NGO “Responsible Citizens” ensured the operation of Child-Friendly Spaces and mobile teams, enabling outreach to various communities across the oblast. Particular attention was given to children who had experienced displacement, loss of home, or prolonged stress.
“The work focused on restoring a sense of safety, strengthening parental resources, and reducing anxiety levels. Even short-term interventions in such conditions had a significant impact, helping families better adapt to the new reality,” comments Alla Maslakhova, Project Coordinator in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
The activities were carried out within the framework of the UNICEF project in Ukraine “Strengthening Community Capacity to Deliver Essential Protection and Resilience Services in Kharkiv, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts,” implemented by the NGO “Responsible Citizens” with the support of the Government of the United States of America.
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