RAZOM Relief Grantee Spotlight: Vaad of Ukraine​

Published: September 15, 2023   

After the full-scale invasion in early 2022, Joseph Zissels was evacuating families from the then-occupied Kyiv region and dropping them in shelters for internally displaced people (IDPs).

“I did not like that shelter, as nobody was caring for families there,” Zissels said, noting that all families had severe mental conditions. “They had food, a place to stay, but nothing to do, and were all extremely stressed.”

According to Zissels, about 20% of war-affected civilians develop post-traumatic stress disorder, but timely psychological support significantly reduces the risk.

With over 30 years leading Vaad of Ukraine— the Association of Jewish Organizations and Communities — Joseph used its resources and connections with leading Ukrainian psychological institutions to launch “Recovery During the War.” This initiative provides intensive psychological rehabilitation for women and their children, particularly those who had stayed in occupied territories, endured heavy shelling, or suffered familial losses due to the war.

“Recovery During the War” is a three-week program, offering group and individual therapy for adults and children, art therapy, workshops, and hiking trips. Program sessions take place in a secure setting in the west of Ukraine, accommodating small groups of families.

Every session is unique and adapted to the specific needs of its participants. A week before the start, psychologists receive needed information and arrive at the location earlier to work on the specific program for the coming families.

Since May 2022, “Recovery During the War” has held 56 program sessions and supported 843 families (or almost two thousand individuals). RAZOM Relief provided $100,000 in grants to support seven camps.

The program is continually improving and growing.

In some cases, three weeks of psychological recovery aren’t sufficient. This year, Vaad partnered with psychological institutions to offer an ongoing, free online consultation course after in-person sessions for those who need it.

To manage thousands of requests, the program developed a screening process. Those not needing intense intervention get a “self-support package.” Some families receive online consultations, while those with the greatest needs join in-person sessions. Vaad has also teamed up with 10 qualified psychiatrists to enhance rehabilitation. When therapists deem it necessary, these psychiatrists provide supplementary support.

Following the invasion, the demand for psychological recovery is high in Ukraine. Since the start of the program, 374 psychologists and 56 art therapists have contributed, helping participants and gaining valuable experience for the nation’s ongoing recovery. Vaad constantly organizes seminars and training with international specialists to further develop the skills of psychologists, therapists, and volunteers.

This past August, with the support of RAZOM, the program started a new project-session working with women who suffered conflict-related sexual violence in occupied territories or in captivity.

One participant, Halyna, volunteered to help Ukrainian service persons and orphanages for eight years. Under occupation and fearing for her safety and that of her adopted one-year-old son Sashko, who had cerebral palsy, brain damage, and severe cataracts, she sought refuge in a small village near Kherson, where she would not be recognized as a volunteer.

Despite the risks, Halyna continued humanitarian efforts in the village and coordinated the essential aid delivery from free territories. Her active work led occupiers to capture and torture her.

The local families confirmed she was solely helping children, yet before Russians let Halyna go, they committed sexual violence against her. Following her release, Halyna and her son left the occupied territories still under attack.

“Work(ing) with psychologists was useful — they taught me to look differently at things…This project gave me new strength to live and fight further. I understand there is a lot of work to be done, but there are people ready to help, and I am grateful to them,” Halyna said.

After the program, she will be helping Sashko get on his feet and plans to visit Bakhmut and Kherson to continue supporting Ukrainian civilians and servicepersons.

Natalia, another participant in the session, was trapped with her two children for six months under occupation in the Donetsk region as Russians did not let people leave. She constantly feared for her two children and often did not know how she would feed them, commenting, “If the shell does not kill them, starvation can.”

Natalia said her children had heavy, adult-like questions and thoughts following the occupation. While in the program, they had a chance to work through their trauma with qualified child therapists.

It also became a space for Natalia to connect with understanding individuals.

“People who did not go through it do not know what was happening to us [in the occupied territories]. But here, in the program, everybody has their own similar story — all somewhat different, but equally painful.”

The program helped Natalia to improve her sleep and calm down. She discovered comfort in fabric drawing and intends to continue the practice post-session.

Joseph Zissels is compassionate and  philosophical saying, “Life constantly gets harder [in Ukraine], and we must adapt. We make our program more complex to address the need.”

The psychological rehabilitation program is vital for the functioning of Ukrainian society during and after the war. There are thousands more people on Vaad’s waitlist and it constantly grows.

To increase capabilities, the program needs more funding and support, which is only possible with your help. Please donate to RAZOM today.

NGO “Ordinary People” – The Space of Ukrainian Invincibility

Published: June 12, 2023   

In 2018, a young woman from Kharkiv learned about an orphaned baby boy suffering from an unknown disease at one of the public hospitals. Both of his parents died. All he had left was hospital staff and an IV in his little arm.

The young woman’s heart broke looking at that tiny 1-year-old boy weighing just about 9 pounds. She decided to do whatever it took to save his life. Joined by a close friend and a few other wholeheartedly caring people, they sought the best doctors, medicines, and resources. They went all out to give this boy the life he deserved.

The boy’s health slowly improved, but the bureaucratic red tape created many challenges. After fighting the adoption battle for almost a year, the young woman eventually found the boy’s aunt – somewhere deep in russian Siberia. Thankfully, the aunt took him in.

Today the boy is happy and healthy, and his new family is still in touch with the rescue team who saved his life. Today, this rescue team is trying to protect Ukrainian children from those who called themselves our “older brothers.”

That young woman’s name is Iryna Stroeva, and her close friend is Anna Vovk. Together these two extraordinary women founded an NGO called “Ordinary People” (ukr. Zvichayni Ludi) that’s been helping orphaned and disadvantaged children since July 2019.

The Razom Relief team (prev. Razom Grants) first learned about this NGO in May 2022. “Ordinary People” was amongst the first volunteer groups to organize the procurement and delivery of humanitarian aid in the Kharkiv region. Dictated by the brutal, inhumane war, volunteer initiatives were initially frantic and disjointed, but now the Ukrainian volunteer movement has become stronger than ever. Furthermore, it is growing into a powerful civil society with tremendous potential for rebuilding the country.

NGO "Ordinary People"

In the summer of 2022, Razom Relief granted “Ordinary People” $30,000 to aid Kharkiv residents. With these funds, volunteers provided food, water, medicines, and hygiene products to those who needed them most but had no access to any resources. All humanitarian packages were delivered hand-to-hand by over 250 volunteers.

 

Later, Razom provided a $17,000 grant for the residents of the recently liberated territories in the Kharkiv region. Once again, “Ordinary People” volunteers were the first to reach the remote areas and help people devastated by the russian occupation. 

Another $8,000 granted by Razom went to give the children from these areas happy holiday memories – Christmas and New Year’s celebrations and gifts.

Since February 24, 2022, russian soldiers damaged over 3300 Ukrainian schools. Due to significant destruction, some towns and villages have no places for children to socialize or continue their education. Even the fields and forests, where children used to play and run free, are now covered in landmines.

 

The relentless violence and instability have forced parents to prioritize the safety and well-being of their children above all else. Many families sought refuge in safer regions or fled the country altogether. A lot of them want to come back home and move on with their lives, but the destruction of infrastructure makes it especially challenging.

One of Razom Relief’s current goals is assisting Ukrainian NGOs and charitable organizations in rebuilding spaces for children, creating new ones, and ensuring they have bomb shelters with all necessary equipment.

 

Having been helping children for many years, NGO “Ordinary People” developed a new project called “The Space of Ukrainian Invincibility” – a physical club dedicated to education, rehabilitation, and comprehensive support of children and teenagers who survived the russian occupation.

 

One such club has already been renovated in the town of Balakliya. There, “Ordinary People” bring a group of psychologists who work with children and their parents as a part of another project called “The Psychology of Invincibility.”

Another Space of Ukrainian Invincibility will be located in the town of Tsyrkuny. Technical surveys, renovations, window and door installation, electrical work, and finishing touches have been completed thanks to benefactors and microgrants. This club will provide a safe, secure, and engaging space for children of all ages and interests. The bomb shelter is also being renovated and is only 80 feet away from the club.

 

So far, Razom Relief has allocated close to $12,000 for this club in the Tsyrkunivska community. The grant aims to involve professional psychologists, teachers, musicians, athletes, and rehabilitation specialists who can provide children with a fulfilling life, including opportunities to socialize with peers, actively learn new skills, engage in sports activities, and grow into happy young adults. The funds will also cover the gas costs to transport children from the six nearby settlements to attend classes and workshops.

 

The first tour of the space happened just a few days ago. However, some work still has to be done, and the program’s long-term success will depend on the completion of repairs, the involvement of local residents, government agencies, and continued support from donors.

Once “The Space of Ukrainian Invincibility” in Tsyrkuny is fully operational it will provide:

 

  • Safe and secure space for 200 children;

  • The psychological support of licensed professionals and the physical protection of the bomb shelter;

  • Access to classes and workshops, extracurricular education, learning new skills, exploring and improving their talents, and simply being kids who are entertained and enjoying themselves;

  • Opportunities for local professionals to get employed and contribute to the well-being of their community.

by Yelena Ivlieva

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