Support for Families and Children Displaced in Kharkiv Region

“We walk this path together with people to restore a sense of stability for families with children who were forced to leave their homes,” says Zhanna Vakulenko, a social worker from Kharkiv.

In the Kharkiv region, our team supports people daily who have been forced to leave their homes due to the war. Most of them are families with children arriving from Vovchansk, Druzhkivka, Derhachi community, and other affected areas.

Social worker of NGO “Responsible Citizens” Zhanna Vakulenko works in temporary accommodation sites and sees daily how important it is to help each child and their parents feel safe and cared for.

For children, our team organizes comprehensive assistance: psychological sessions to reduce anxiety and normalize their state. Equally important is providing a safe space for socialization and new friendships — especially for those who have been studying online since 2020.

Children in need attend speech therapy sessions. First graders participate in mine safety lessons, which are regularly repeated, as this knowledge must be constantly refreshed. Older children attend career guidance sessions to help them choose future professions.

“We are already seeing results: children become more socialized, their psychological state stabilizes, and even their academic performance improves,” shares Zhanna Vakulenko.

Helping adults is equally important. The NGO team advises on obtaining legal statuses, assists in creating resumes to find work, promotes financial literacy, provides parenting support, and accompanies families considering adoption.

NGO “Responsible Citizens” has worked for over 11 years with the most vulnerable groups of the population. We are always close to those forced to leave frontline regions.