Supported by SOS Children’s Villages: The “Children of Heroes” Charity Fund Continues Implementing its Project on Beneficiaries Protection and Mental Health

In October, the Children of Heroes Charity Fund carried out a series of initiatives within the framework of the project “Protection and Mental Health of Vulnerable Children in Ukraine,” which is being implemented with the support of the International Charitable Organization “SOS Children’s Villages.” The program combines several areas of assistance: psychosocial recovery, education, speech therapy, and specialist training.

The Fund’s specialists launched the course “Preventing Sexual Violence and Exploitation.” Forty-five employees participated, completing two practical sessions with an expert and a three-module online course. After successful testing, all participants received certificates. A final session, dedicated to identifying and responding to cases of violence, is planned for November.

A seven-day camp session was also held in the village of Polyanytsia, Ivano-Frankivsk region, as part of the psychosocial recovery program. Eighty people took part: 39 mothers and 41 children aged 3 to 9 from the Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, and Poltava regions. The program consisted of resource groups, lectures, and individual consultations aimed at reducing stress levels and restoring emotional balance.

The results showed positive progress: participants’ tension levels significantly decreased, and the high level of exhaustion completely disappeared. All camp attendees left positive feedback: “We are very grateful for the opportunity to visit the camp, we loved everything. It was a wonderful time, wonderful people, and wonderful emotions. We are happy!”

Additionally, two open lectures were held in October, focusing on sexual education and healthy relationships. An event for adults, “Sex Education from A to Z: A Step-by-Step Guide for Parents,” and one for adolescents aged 13–18, “A Guide to Intimate Health and Relationships,” took place. Concurrently, speech therapy work continues, and its results will be reflected in future updates.

The “Protection and Mental Health of Vulnerable Children in Ukraine” project helps children and adults who have experienced loss restore their inner emotional equilibrium. Every meeting and every piece of feedback confirms that care, support, and professional help can change the lives of Heroes’ children for the better.

This material was created as part of the project “Protection and Mental Health of Vulnerable Children in Ukraine” by SOS Children’s Villages Ukraine @sos_cv_ukraine, with funding from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) @noradno.

The materials developed within the project do not necessarily reflect the official position of SOS Children’s Villages.