Program “Safe space” will be implemented in 20 pilot schools of Kyiv in cooperation with Department of Education and Science of Kyiv.

According to UNICEF estimates, 1,5 million children are at risk of developing depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and other severe mental disorders. U 2022-2023 academic year in institutions of general secondary education in. Kyiv studied 10 000 IDP children and worked 1500 VPO teachers, who are a particularly vulnerable category in terms of traumatization.

In schools selected by the project, teachers will learn how to create emotionally safe classrooms, how to recognize trauma and refer children to a practical psychologist.

Expected, that practical psychologists will provide psychosocial support to children with high levels of trauma symptoms, will be able to identify children at risk and children with the most severe symptoms, and refer them to a psychotherapist outside the school environment. For this purpose, psychologists from pilot schools will receive training in crisis intervention, which will be held in Warsaw with the support of the local Department of Education. After training, specialists will start implementing the program in Kyiv.

The project team will also prepare 10 new coaches, which will work according to the program “Safe space”.

The project "Complex psychosocial support of teachers and training of crisis interveners for Kyiv schools during the war" is implemented by the NGO “Words help” and specialists Center for mental health of NaUKMA with financial support Plan International.