Safety for children in frontline communities: training in Kryvyi Rih
Daily air raid alerts, the risk of shelling, and constant uncertainty have become a reality for thousands of children living in frontline areas of Ukraine. To support their psychological resilience and provide practical safety knowledge, the NGO Responsible Citizens, with the support of @unicef_ukraine, is organizing a series of trainings in Child-Friendly Spaces.
During one such event in Kryvyi Rih, children:
⚡️ explored the concepts of anxiety and danger;
⚡️ learned to identify risks and make decisions based on different situations;
⚡️ developed action algorithms for air raids and shelling — at home, on the street, or in public spaces;
⚡️ determined conditionally safe places to shelter when official shelters are unavailable.
In the practical part, participants packed an emergency bag and explained the importance of each item. Children were eager to share their own experiences — talking about what they include in their home emergency bags: favorite toys, drawings, or objects that help them feel safe.
Scenario-based exercises addressed difficult life situations: losing one’s home, being outdoors during shelling, or lacking communication. Children practiced calling emergency services, clearly communicating vital information, and understanding when and whom to turn to for help.
Questions raised during the training revealed the depth of children’s experiences:
– What if the house is gone?
– Why is it dangerous to hide in stairwells or elevators?
– Why lie down in a ditch during shelling?
Such trainings provide children not only with knowledge but also with a sense of control, helping to reduce anxiety and build confidence.
Similar events are being held in four other regions in eastern Ukraine.
If you or your child need support, please call: +380665670016
Більше новин
-
Responsible Citizens team completes safety training on short-range dronesMembers of the team of the NGO Responsible Citizens, within the framework of a partnership with Acted, completed an awareness training on such UAVs and countermeasures. The training combined the analysis of real attack scenarios, understanding the logic behind drone target selection, and practicing response algorithms.
-
Rediscovering herself: Yana’s journey from Nikopol to a new beginning through educationThe educational program that helped Yana was made possible by the NGO Responsible Citizens, which for over a year and a half has been implementing short but practical training courses across communities in Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia regions — giving displaced people a fresh start and a new professional path.
-
April 4 — International day for mine awareness and assistance in mine actionResponsible Citizens NGO works systematically to ensure that mine risk education is accessible to everyone — especially to children and families living in frontline areas. We firmly believe: knowledge saves lives. And although awareness is growing, the risks remain high. That’s why we go beyond Mine Risk Awareness Week — our activities take place year-round.
-
Another 175 kg of aid sent to Kharkiv region: support that healsThanks to the cooperation between the NGO “Responsible Citizens” and the social initiative “Humanitarian Nova Poshta,” another 175 kg of psy...
-
New Child-Friendly Spaces open in Kharkiv RegionIn January, new Child-Friendly Spaces began operating in Malynivska, Solonytsivska, Pivdenna, Zachepylivska, and Sakhnovshchynska communities. This marks an important milestone in the implementation of a joint project between the NGO "Responsible Citizens" and UNICEF Ukraine, funded by USAID - US Agency for International Development.
-
Strengthening expertise in the field of protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA)Oksana Ivatina, Project Coordinator of the NGO “Responsible Citizens,” completed a Training of Trainers on the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA).
-
How the educational project helps people find a new professionThe educational component of the joint project with Mercy Corps, funded by the UK government, has reached its final stage. This is an important step for the develop...
-
Strengthening Support for Family-Based CareOlena Bieloliptseva, Education Projects Coordinator at the NGO Responsible Citizens, took part in the inaugural meeting of the Coordination Center for the Development of Family-Based Upbringing and Child Care.