In Kharkiv region, the number of internally displaced persons continues to grow. At the beginning of March, there were approximately 470,000 IDPs in the region. Today, according to the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, there are already 505,000. Most of them are families with children from Kharkiv, Luhansk and Donetsk regions.
All IDPs in need of accommodation are provided with living conditions in Kharkiv. Most people are currently being accommodated in dormitories of educational institutions. The IDPs are being helped to obtain IDP status, receive social benefits, and receive humanitarian aid. But this is the end of the state's assistance. There is simply no one to take care of the psychological state of children and adults, many of whom have experienced traumatic experiences, loss of loved ones, housing, occupation, etc.: the state lacks even social workers, not to mention qualified psychologists or art therapists.
That is why the Kharkiv Community Foundation "Toloka" has taken on the mission to help children from IDP families restore their psychological state, reduce stress, find strength for further life, and ultimately successfully integrate into a new community.
With the support of the international organization INARA, they will implement the "Sprouts of Kindness" project. For almost two months, weekly sessions with a psychologist, art therapist, and drama therapy specialists have been taking place to help children and adolescents find themselves after experiencing trauma.