Ukraine's Children of War: Tangible Help, Critical Healing

Dire. There is no other word I can think of that so aptly describes the situation here in Ukraine for the children.

My name is Abigail and I’m an American humanitarian working on the ground in Ukraine. If I could share one thing in these final days of 2024, it is this: The war is not over. The suffering continues to intensify, and the most vulnerable—the children—are bearing the heaviest burden.

Nearly three years into this devastating war, the psychological and physical toll on children is catastrophic. 75% of Ukrainian children urgently need humanitarian assistance, many if not most of them suffering from ongoing, collective, and complex trauma. Right now, children are forced to live entirely underground—including school, sleeping, and eating. Can you imagine? The emotional scars of this war are mounting, and they need healing now. I’ve come to realize this:

Wars don’t wait. And neither can we.

These little lights—all you need to do is look in their eyes—are the bright future. They are the hope of tomorrow!

Right now, we have a critical, time-sensitive appeal. In the next 4 days, we are raising urgent funds to continue and expand our trauma healing programs in the most dire areas of Ukraine. In 2023/4, the strategy I developed and continue to lead into its now fourth phase yielded impactful results. Over 400 children and their caregivers completed our 7-week trauma healing groups, with an astounding 94% improvement in psychological health as measured by decreased PTSD and trauma symptomatology. In the past 12 months, 36 children’s frontline workers were certified and launched 39 healing groups across 11 regions of Ukraine. But the need is overwhelming, and our waitlist continues to grow…

In January, we need to train the waitlisted 23 additional frontline workers—each of them in the most active war zones—so they can begin healing work immediately. These workers will receive critical trauma training and certification, enabling them to run trauma healing groups for hundreds of children in air raid shelters, orphanages, and more in early 2025. Your donation will provide them with the tools and support they need to heal this wave of children who need urgent help.

Additionally, tangible needs at this year’s end are real. A children’s rehab center in a hot zone is struggling to remain operational due to lack of power. Your contribution will help me provide a battery power pack to ensure this essential facility can continue providing essential services.

Our initial goal to continue the trauma healing work and provide for right now needs is $26,073. I need your help and they need our help! Sharing is supporting and I sincerely appreciate your heart and help. Happy (nearly!) New Year from Ukraine! Thank you so much.