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  • Martin Club and Rotary Club (District 1820) Collaboration: “Pink Panama” project, Together for Children

    Since June 2025, the “Pink Panama” project has been changing its concept of work. We still love children and are waiting for them in our space. Social educators invite them to development classes, to the teenage club, to activities outside the premises: on excursions, hikes, to game tournaments. Our address is changing. Today it is Khersonska, 5, the premises of the children's hub, located in a bomb shelter, safe and adapted for conducting classes with children. What is Pink Panama 2025? "Pink Panama" is a project by a team of professionals who share common values ​​of protecting childhood and the future generation. Our main goal is to support children at all stages of their development so that they have the opportunity to live a full childhood, despite the difficult circumstances of war. The war has changed the childhood of many Ukrainian children. They know what an “air raid” is, how to find a bomb shelter, and how to protect themselves in conditions of uncertainty. They have experienced many hardships, from losing their homes to fearing for the safety of their families. Ukrainian children were forced to grow up unfairly fast. Therefore, the goal of Pink Panama is to give children back their childhood and the opportunity to live a full life, find new friends and a new social group. Since the war started in 2022, we have had the opportunity to see how children grow up in war and what they and their parents need, what support is needed at each stage of child development. Now we have 3 main components: support for education (preparation for school, support at school), development (art therapy, workshops, introduction to professions), development of emotional intelligence (program of social and emotional training, communication). The main goal of the Pink Panama project is to provide comprehensive support and promote the healthy psychophysical development of children affected by the war in Ukraine. The project aims to make children feel safe, overcome trauma, socialize and find their role in society. The ultimate goal is to help children become active and responsible members of society who contribute to the development of the country. Strategy for three age groups 1. Preschoolers (5-7 years old) Main objective: Preparation for school, socialization, social and emotional learning. Activities for the development of fine motor skills, memory, attention, and logical thinking Games to unite and establish contacts between children Art therapy, music therapy for emotional development Ecology classes and eco-experiments as the first step in caring for the environment 2. Younger students (8-10 years old) Main objective: To consolidate and develop the knowledge and skills acquired in the first stage. Deepening knowledge of school readiness (reading, arithmetic, logic) Development of communication skills, ability to cooperate in a team Career guidance games and workshops Volunteer projects aimed at helping the community 3. Teenagers (11-12 years old) Main goal: Self-determination, search for a role in society, professional orientation. Trainings on personal development, leadership, decision-making Mini-courses in various professions, excursions to enterprises Mentoring programs, involvement of teenagers in volunteer activities Consultations with psychologists and career counselors We believe that children are our future. We want these future adults to be able to realize themselves in society. To be self-confident people who know themselves and get along with others. People who had a happy childhood despite the most terrible circumstances that surrounded them. At the time of the application, we already have a component for preschool children. We ask for support for work with school-age children and adolescents. Currently, the project works half a day for toddlers, because we do not have the opportunity to accept more children. In case of funding, we will be able to cover older children for the next 4 months. Martin Club and Rotary Collaboration: Together for Children The “Pink Panama” project: Supporting Children through Rotary From June to September 2025, the Pink Panama Project will be implemented thanks to the generous support of the Rotary Club of District 1820 (Germany). Thanks to the funding of Rotarians, this unique project will have the opportunity to serve Ukrainian children affected by the consequences of war. Also in 2023, the Pink Panama was funded with the participation of Rotary, which confirms the long-term cooperation between our organizations. Mission of Rotary Clubs The mission of the Rotary Club is to unite leaders of different professions for joint service to society, support humanitarian projects, and promote peace throughout the world. Rotarians focus their activities on key areas - the fight against poverty, education, health care, ensuring access to clean water and supporting the community, showing a true example of selfless service. These clubs pay special attention to children who need protection and care in difficult moments of life. Shared mission: serving people In its many years of work, the Martin Club has always supported the values ​​close to Rotary, because these organizations share a common goal - to help those who need it most and direct their potential to solve social problems. Our cooperation is based on the desire to create a more just and humane world. United for the future The joint activities of the Martin Club and Rotary are an example of how joining forces can change people's lives. We are grateful to the Rotary Club of District 1820 (Germany) for their trust and support in our common cause – serving children who need it so much.

  • ✨ Meeting with the Delegation of the European Commission Advisory Service

    Recently, the MARTIN Club team held a meeting with a delegation of the European Commission Advisory Service, which included lawyers, police officers, and other specialists working on CRSV (conflict-related sexual violence) cases across Europe. We discussed the achievements  Ukraine has already made in the field of legislation on responding to war crimes and CRSV, as well as the challenges  faced by survivors and professionals in the process of justice. Ukraine already has a legislative framework for responding to war crimes — even while the armed conflict is ongoing. An important step has been the introduction of interim reparations: survivors are already receiving housing certificates and other forms of compensation. This demonstrates the progressiveness of our legal system and its ability to function even under extraordinary circumstances. ⚖️ However, there are still gaps that require change: 1️⃣ Access to legal aid for survivors.  Unlike defendants, survivors must go through complicated procedures to obtain a lawyer. This creates barriers for the most vulnerable groups. We believe legislative changes are needed to ensure that survivors of crimes against sexual freedom and inviolability, as well as children, automatically receive free legal representation — without additional steps or procedures on their part. 2️⃣ Child protection in criminal proceedings.  The Criminal Procedure Code does not include the concept of “child interviewing,” which is in line with European standards. This requires amendments to make justice more child-friendly and to implement European standards for child participation in criminal proceedings. 3️⃣ Weak communication between investigators and survivors.  Survivors often learn about the closure of criminal proceedings only after the fact. The absence of accountability for such violations undermines trust in the justice system. At MARTIN Club, our specialists not only analyze legislation but also work daily with real CRSV cases. This gives us a deep practical understanding of the challenges faced by survivors and Ukrainian professionals on the path to justice. 🤝 We thank the European Commission delegation for their open dialogue and willingness to support Ukraine in building an effective and fair system of response.

  • NGO “MARTIN-Club” and the Kamianske City Council signed a Memorandum of Cooperation: a systemic strengthening of support for women and children affected by violence

    NGO “MARTIN-Club” and the Kamianske City Council have formally consolidated their partnership by signing a Memorandum of Cooperation  — a document that institutionalizes joint actions in preventing and responding to domestic and gender-based violence, delivering humanitarian assistance, and building a sustainable system of social services for vulnerable groups, including internally displaced persons (IDPs). The signing ceremony was attended by Yan Borodin, Program Director of NGO MARTIN-Club, and Andrii Biloусов, Mayor of Kamianske. This milestone marks an important step in strengthening the city’s support system for survivors of violence. It follows several years of practical engagement by the MARTIN-Club team in Kamianske, where emergency response services, as well as psychological, social, and legal assistance, have already been operating. Since March 2023, under MARTIN-Club’s administration, a wide range of support services for women, children, and young people have been functioning in Kamianske. These included safe spaces for women and girls, “Vilna” and “Sviĭ Prostir,” offering psychological counseling, informational support on combating GBV and domestic violence, peer-support groups, as well as educational and recovery sessions. Simultaneously, the organization provided case management and operated mobile teams of socio-psychological support to respond to cases of violence. MARTIN-Club also delivered individual counseling, legal representation (including in court), targeted humanitarian aid (food and non-food packages), and dignity kits for women and girls at risk. A crisis room for survivors of GBV and a helpline for victims of violence were also in operation. Significant attention was devoted to youth-oriented activities: the organization organized training sessions, interactive events, and development programs aimed at supporting young people and youth workers during wartime. This multidimensional approach enabled MARTIN-Club to reach diverse categories of community members, creating a sustainable and comprehensive support system. In total, 23,415 beneficiaries in Kamianske have received assistance from MARTIN-Club . The signing of the Memorandum is not only a formal confirmation of ongoing cooperation but also a step toward systematically developing services, deepening coordination between city services and MARTIN-Club, and providing structured training for local specialists in modern standards of working with survivors. This will help Kamianske become a safer, more resilient, and better-prepared community in the face of future challenges.

  • July at MARTIN Club: new spaces, support and partnership

    July was a month of action for our team. We opened safe spaces for children and women, worked with communities facing the challenges of war, violence, and loss. We strengthened our expertise, launched partnership initiatives, spoke out about painful topics — and sought answers together with those around us. CHILD PROTECTION One of the main areas of the month is child protection. In five communities of the Dnipropetrovsk region, "Kwoka Hubs" have been launched - new spaces that are friendly to children. Here children can feel safe, express themselves, and explore the world through play, communication, and their own emotions. As part of the work of the "Children's Support Service", we visited shelters , schools, and group homes. We conducted emotional intelligence classes, master classes, consulted, and simply talked to children — sincerely and genuinely. Because that's where trust begins. We discussed this approach at a working meeting on July 9 with representatives of juvenile prevention. We jointly analyzed complex cases and launched a mechanism for referring children to specialists. And on July 23, during the forum "Everyday for Children," the MARTIN Club team presented their experience: how we create safe spaces, work with communities, and support those who are with children every day. OPENING SPACE Work on security issues continued in another direction — supporting women. In partnership with the Dnipro City Council and the Leader Children and Youth Center, we opened “Your Space” — a place where you can stop, breathe, and feel like a resource. The space is located on the left bank of the Dnipro. Women who have experienced war, violence, or loss can come here. Psychological, social, and legal assistance is provided here. And, no less important, conditions have been created for recovery, rest, silence, and care. EDUCATION In July, we strengthened community resilience through training. We conducted a series of trainings on "Preparedness and Protection in the Event of Conflict" for teachers, social workers, and community representatives. We taught how to act in emergency situations to preserve the most important thing - life and psycho-emotional health of people. Separately, we organized specialized training for the police. We talked about sensitivity to the topic of domestic violence, response algorithms, and trauma-informed approaches. Because it is important not only to act, but also to act with understanding. So that every interaction with a traumatized person is not a re-trauma, but the first step towards recovery. COUNTERACTION AGAINST VIOLENCE Combating gender-based violence is a key area of our work. In July, we joined forces with the national police in Kryvyi Rih and conducted an information campaign right on the streets of the city. We talked about what violence is and how to recognize it. We talked about support services. We gave women contacts with whom they would not be left alone. And what's important is that new cases were discovered, because when there is trust, a voice appears. LEGAL SERVICE In parallel with our fieldwork, we continued advocacy at the systemic level. Julia Segeda, head of the legal department of the MARTIN Club, became a speaker at two professional events in the field of law and justice. During the webinar of the Kyiv office of the Register of Losses for Ukraine, the topic was recording losses and reparations — so that justice is not only a value, but also a procedure reflected in documents and real actions. At a seminar for judges at the National School of Judges of Ukraine, Yulia spoke about the trial of sexual crimes — through the prism of the real experiences of victims. The focus was on sensitivity, dignity, and justice — which should be present not in slogans, but in the courtroom. EVACUATION The MARTIN-club team also worked in the Malomykhailivska community of Dnipropetrovsk region, 17 km from the front line. At the request of the regional administration, we provided psychological support to 42 residents who were in the evacuation zone. Specialists helped people who were faced with the need to leave their homes - they consulted, reduced anxiety, and supported the decision-making process. PEACEBUILDING Throughout July, we organized four forum theater performances in Dnipro. Through dramatic scenes based on real events, we opened up topics that are usually kept quiet — violence, discrimination, social vulnerability, and indifference. The format involved not only viewing, but also active participation: viewers could come on stage and suggest alternative scenarios for the development of events. This created a space for reflection and finding solutions. According to feedback, over 90% of participants felt more understanding, solidarity, and a desire to influence change in their environment after watching. Also, throughout July, all services of the NGO MARTIN-club worked in a stable mode: hotline, mobile teams, case managers, social workers, lawyers, psychologists, children's and women's spaces. We continued to provide humanitarian and financial support to women who have suffered from violence. This month has once again confirmed that systemic change is only possible with trust, cooperation and open dialogue. Through our joint work, we support the safety of children, women and communities, restoring their dignity and strength for the future. We thank everyone who is involved in this change - together we move forward.

  • Child Sexual Violence: How the System Responds — and What Each of Us Can Do

    Children who witness or experience violence don’t just “forget” Sexual violence is a difficult topic to discuss. But it becomes even more painful when it concerns children. Often, adults are unsure how to respond — they hesitate, wondering “was that really abuse?”, especially if the child doesn’t speak up, if there’s no clear evidence, or if shame gets in the way. And while all this unfolds, the child remains alone with something they cannot name or explain. Even if it’s not direct abuse, simply growing up in an environment where violence is present causes harm. Children who are constantly exposed to aggression live under chronic stress. It affects their ability to concentrate, their anxiety levels, their capacity to learn and communicate. Later in life, they often repeat these patterns or find themselves in violent situations again. This is not coincidence — it’s the result of unprocessed trauma that was never acknowledged or stopped in time. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, MARTIN Club supported 32 cases of child sexual abuse. Each one wasn’t just a number in a database. It was a real child — often very young. A family. Fear. And hope that someone would respond properly. How the system responds: establishing a specialized service We’ve learned from experience: support doesn’t become effective just because it “exists.” For help to truly work, someone needs to bring it all together. That’s why in 2025, MARTIN Club launched a specialized Expert Response Service for child survivors of sexual violence, including cases related to the war (CRSV). It’s a unique structure within the civil sector and is already operating on a regional level. This service is activated once a case is reported — by police, a hospital, social services, the MARTIN Club hotline, or any other communication channel. At that point, a professional team steps in: a case manager, psychologist, lawyer, social worker — all of them highly trained in responding to traumatic events involving children. The service doesn’t rely on intuition. It operates systematically — based on approved protocols, interagency cooperation, and structured coordination. It was designed to prevent help from falling apart into disconnected pieces — a single conversation, a one-off police report, a hospital visit — and nothing more. The team builds an individual response plan, supports the child through every stage, documents the case, represents the child’s interests, and ensures that the goal is  The role of the case manager: someone who holds it all together When something like this happens, families often don’t know where to begin. Do they go to the police first? Or to the doctor? Should they see a psychologist? Should they file a report? How do they talk to the child? In those moments, it’s crucial to have someone who sees the full path ahead. 👉 The case manager is that person. They coordinate support, explain rights to the parents, and bring together the efforts of lawyers, law enforcement, and mental health professionals. They ensure the child is not retraumatized and — most importantly — that the child doesn’t just go through the motions, but actually begins to recover. What can adults do? If you learn that a child has experienced sexual violence, your responsibility is not just moral — it’s legal. ✅ According to Resolution No. 585 “On Ensuring the Social Protection of Children in Difficult Life Circumstances,” any adult who becomes aware of a case of violence against a child is required to report it to the police, the child welfare service, or another authorized body within 24 hours . This doesn’t just apply to teachers or social workers — it applies to anyone who witnesses or learns of such a situation. Here’s what you can do: Contact the police immediately  — by calling 102 or visiting the nearest station. Notify the local child welfare service  — in your municipality. Reach out to a support organization , such as MARTIN Club. And here’s how you can support the child: Provide safety and stability  — stay close, even when the danger seems to have passed. Allow the child to express themselves  — through conversation, drawing, play, or anything familiar. Model healthy relationships  — ones based on respect, safety, and trust. Help rebuild their confidence  — offer encouragement, acknowledge their strengths, and remind them they are not to blame. Unfortunately, sexual violence against children is not rare. And the worst thing we can do is look away or stay silent, hoping it will somehow resolve itself. Support isn’t just about professionals. It’s about attentive adults. About the willingness to act. About those who aren’t afraid to take responsibility — for the child and for the system. At MARTIN Club, we work every day to make that system real: responsive, humane, and professional. But every system begins with a single call. 📞 MARTIN Club Helpline: +38 099 632 77 01 Available via Viber and Telegram. Confidential.

  • Women, Peace and Security: 25 Years of UNSCR 1325,

    This May, the MARTIN Club team participated in the international conference “Women, Peace and Security: 25 Years of UNSCR 1325,” held in Oslo, Norway. The event brought together international leaders, activists, and experts to reflect on the achievements and challenges in advancing the Women, Peace and Security agenda, calling for continued support, recognition of women’s roles, and the strengthening of their influence in peacebuilding and security processes worldwide. Anastasiia Pliushchova, MARTIN Club’s project manager, joined the panel discussion “Life Without Fear: Preventing Violence, Protecting Women’s Rights, and Fighting for Accountability and Justice.” She emphasized that since the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukrainian women have been bearing tremendous responsibilities—often acting as both parents, caregivers, and breadwinners—while lacking sufficient resources or institutional support. She also drew attention to the rapid militarization of Ukrainian society, which increases risks of violence against women and exacerbates their vulnerability. Following the main conference program, participants took part in a roundtable organized by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad). The discussion focused on the challenges faced by civil society organizations in conflict settings and during post-war recovery, highlighting the real needs of survivors which should remain central to the efforts of all stakeholders. Together with Norwegian People’s Aid, MARTIN Club presented the outcomes of two and a half years of partnership, through which women in communities across Dnipropetrovsk oblast have received tangible support, strengthened their resilience, and navigated difficult life circumstances. For us, this was more than just participation in an event—it was a way to carry the voices, truths, and strength of Ukrainian women to the places where decisions are made. And it was a reminder of the urgent need for continued support, recognition, and empowerment of women in peace and security processes in Ukraine and beyond. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to be heard. Photo by Ellen Johanne Jarli

  • Psychology services in the Kamianske

    Public organization MARTIN-club is a non-commercial, non-political humanitarian organization that, since 1999, has been providing comprehensive assistance and protection to women, children and people affected by military operations in Ukraine. Currently, our organization works in 5 regions of Ukraine and provides: social support of the most vulnerable persons, provision of psychological assistance; consulting on social issues; providing humanitarian assistance, legal and legal assistance, shelter and specialized services to women and children affected by violence. Information here:

  • Vilna celebrates Halloween!

    The good witches of "Vilna" have already started preparations for the most mystical day of the year - Halloween. First, they conjured up the appropriate holy atmosphere with the help of our visiting fairies under the guidance of needlewoman Anastasia. The girls created Halloween attributes: bright toadstools, witches' hats, cute ghosts and many other creepy but charming crafts. Glue, paper, glitter and paints - and the "Vilna" space turned into a wizard's workshop. Then they added the drawings of female visitors under the guidance of teacher Yevgenia👩🎨, and during the English lesson they held a performance in the appropriate style. Finally, in order not to go hungry, they held a master class on creating a "magical" pumpkin cream soup Voila! Preparation for Halloween is complete! We invite everyone who is on the side of good to the space of creativity, self-development and safe communication - in "Vilna"! Kamyansk Taras Shevchenko Ave., 33a +38 066-001-86-98 The project is implemented by the public organization "MARTIN-club" within the humanitarian response of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund in Ukraine with the financial support of USAID (USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance).

  • Stories for the 20th anniversary. Sashka Denisov

    My favorite child was born in the family of a 60-year-old chess master, a turner from a metallurgical plant, and a 25-year-old beautiful janitor. Sasha also had a sister, Olena, a year and a half younger. My mother had a mental disorder, from time to time she was treated for a long time, and then the children were taken care of by the grandmother. More or less, the family kept afloat, and everything would be fine if it weren't for the 90s. My father stopped being paid his salary, he got drunk, my mother began to fall into an insane abyss more and more often, and she died in the same year as my grandmother. In this whole nightmare, seven-year-old Sashko didn't survive very well, from time to time he slept in the entrance, so when he was taken to a boarding school, he already knew that he could sleep on the floor, and this could be a salvation. ... in street life, Santyor kept aloof. He was not touched, now I understand why. That is why he was not touched in the zone. Because he was born with genetic charisma, which you always feel animalistically with that organ that has not yet been invented. Or maybe ass, who knows. In any case, the boy who did not beat anyone was respected and allowed to live his life. Sanya is lonely, that's why she is still in this world. When the whole party was addicted to drugs, my favorite boy just ate sweets and stole impiously. For the sake of force, not for profit. In one district out of five in the city, 97 criminal proceedings were opened against him and he was a witness in another 12. And he knew that at 14, as soon as he became a defendant, he would sit down. ... when Sashka was 9, we made the first and last attempt to return the child to the boarding school from which he ran away. We went into the director's office, having previously almost on our knees persuaded Sashka to go with us. There were three of us: Robert, a Pole, a believer, an outstanding teacher, me, then still a psychologist from the social service, and a smelly, sewing child who held me tightly with one hand by my pants with the other. The headmistress, seeing Sashka, said: ah, is that you? and, addressing us: do you know that he sucks from porters for cigarettes at the bazaar? I still regret that I did not cling to her house on her head. I am still immensely ashamed in front of the boy that we were so stupid then that we did not fight for them in the full sense of the word. Because such creatures do not understand what they have done to children, they only understand force. I write and hate, but 20 years have passed, she has long since died, this well-deserved criminal with a life-long pedagogy. We silently left the office and Sasha went with us. No one ever looked for him again. We then took our first steps in our business, and Sashka was their main decoration. He was almost always cheerful, adored animals, ate from the same plate with his cat Dima, and by the way he began to sing songs like "goodbyamericaoooo" after dinner, we understood: Santyor had satisfied his hunger and was happy. Like everyone else, he ran away from us a hundred times and returned a hundred times. He was imprisoned on the second day of his 14th birthday. On this holiday, I gave him the only flowers in his life. When he returned from the zone for the fifth time, he came to my house, we hugged and cried, and he reminded me of them: do you remember, those white, smelly ones, I was ashamed of them, because I am a boy, and you gave , and I couldn't help but take it, because you gave it to me. I did not remember those flowers. Now he is 32, he has a family, the little one was named Denis, as the man I love. Sasha works on construction sites, it's hard. And I am happy that the core in his soul did not allow him to make money from war and terrorism, although it is very difficult to survive with his profession where he is. I respect him a lot, although we haven't talked for 3 years, he is in my heart forever. One of the five from the 90s who is still alive, one of the few in my entire life, with whom I can talk about everything, freely, without obstacles and misunderstandings, in the same language, although we live very different lives. #Donetsk_Dnipro

  • In Ukraine, only 6 children were recognized as victims of the war in Donbas. VIDEO

    #Children's wars. Public activists published an open appeal on social networks under this hashtag. Yes, they are trying to reach the Ministry of Social Policy and the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Pavlo Rozenko. They are trying to explain to officials that Ukraine must fulfill and not contradict the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Activists say that - in 7 months, only 6 children out of 580,000 received the status of a child who suffered as a result of hostilities and armed conflicts. One of the initiators of the appeal, Daria Kasyanova, writes in her public on the social network: "Open appeal of Pavlo Rozenko For 7 months from the date of adoption of Resolution N268, only 6 children of Ukraine received the status of a child injured as a result of military actions, out of more than 580 thousand. The reason is simple: the prescribed procedures do not provide for the protection of the child's rights and therefore do not work. For six months, the working group finalized the resolution so that Ukraine could fulfill the requirements of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and protect its own children. But the process of making changes is artificially slowed down all the time. The status is needed first of all in order to assess how many children have suffered; how much professional help is needed; what number of specialists should be prepared for rehabilitation, what state programs should be adopted for their protection. This concerns migrant children; children living in the gray zone and along the front line; children living in uncontrolled territory; children of ATO soldiers". We will also provide the text of the appeal:

  • We have created safe spaces and a mobile team to support children in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast

    New safe centers for children were opened in three cities of the Dnipropetrovsk region. They provide free social and psychological services to support both children and their parents, including IDPs. The coordinator of the project "Support service for children in the cities of Kryvyi Rih, Novomoskovsk, Dnipro" Mykyta Semenov, facilitator of socio-emotional education for children Hanna Volodina and specialist in the development of Global Communities partnership Aryna Hrytsenko-Kharkovska told Open about this. Public organization "MARTIN-club", under the project "Support service for children in Kryvyi Rih, Novomoskovsk, Dnipro", created 2 safe spaces and 1 mobile team for classes with children of different ages in Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih and Novomoskovsk. "MARTIN-club" implements this activity in partnership with Global Communities within the framework of the CLEAR program, which is financed by the Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance of the United States Agency for International Development. "MARTIN-club" is a public organization with 25 years of experience in the mission "Warmth and protection for children in need". Since 2014, he has specialized in helping war victims. During the full-scale invasion, thousands of children lost their parents, killed at the front or under shelling. They hear air raid sirens every day, learn about deaths and injuries in the families of friends and relatives, and come under fire themselves. Millions of children have lost their homes and their familiar environment. Children learn in new conditions, have to adapt, are forced to live with strangers in a crowd, without having their own space. Children and adolescents from the frontline and de-occupied territories do not have the opportunity to see their friends, and for children communication with peers is not a desirable, but a necessary condition for development and socialization. In a traumatized environment, children cannot develop in accordance with their age, and adults are often unable to give children the much-needed stability and support. Therefore, our goal is to help in these situations in every possible way. Returning a child's childhood is the task of the MARTIN-club NGO and the project "Children's support service in the cities of Kryvyi Rih, Novomoskovsk, Dnipro" is one of the powerful tools for its solution, says Nikita Semenov. On the basis of newly created safe spaces, children will be able to spend time in an atmosphere of care and attention to their needs. Art therapy classes, master classes, social-emotional training, psychological and legal consultations, individual and group classes with psychologists will be held for them. Support is also provided for family members, parents or guardians. All services are provided free of charge. And the schedules for visiting the spaces are made so that it does not interfere with learning at school. "Every child is under stress now. And she often does not understand what it is at all, what to do with it and who can turn to for help. Our method of social-emotional learning helps to form three skills in a child. The first is self-awareness, when an understanding of emotions and the state experienced appears. The second is when the child learns to empathize. The third is when she becomes involved and can help herself by adjusting her stress level and even help others. All these skills will be developed through dialogue methods, interesting stories, all kinds of games, art therapy exercises and much more. We focus our work on an individual approach to the child, and our teacher acts as a facilitator who gently guides the process, does not pressure, but goes along with the children along this path. It's definitely not like at school," says Hanna Volodina. The project "Children's Support Service of the cities of Kryvyi Rih, Novomoskovsk, Dnipro" envisages the involvement, first of all, of children from the families of IDPs, local residents who were evacuated and returned. At the same time, any child who needs it can get help in these spaces. They employ trainers, psychologists, art therapists, social educators, and lawyers. There is an escort of social workers. In general, the organizers of the project plan to help about 2,000 people by the end of the year. The uniqueness of the project is the created mobile team in the Novomoskovsk community. It is actually on wheels, and the form of its operation is somewhat different from the spaces in Dnipro and Kryvyi Rih. The main emphasis is on art therapy with elements of social-emotional training. "I represent the international organization Global Communities, which has been working in Ukraine since 2016. For 8 years, we have been implementing the USAID DOBRE program, which provides support to communities in the process of decentralization of power. And with the start of a full-scale invasion, implementation began from the CLEAR program with financial support from the United States Agency for International Development's Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (USAID's BHA). The overall objective of the program is to meet the immediate needs of people affected by the war, while supporting local communities in their own response. We are glad to support our partners in the implementation of such important initiatives and contribute to the development of their organizational capacity", says Aryna Hrytsenko-Kharkovska. Space for children in Dnipro Railway station Livoberezhny-3, str. Hetmanska 7, "Olimpiyskiy" housing complex. T: (093) 281 76 83. Space for children in the Kryvyi Rih 32A Metalurgiv Ave., (former Rustavelli restaurant). T: (067) 343 14 14. Mobile team in Novomoskovsk you can contact by phone: (067) 343 18 18.   The material is taken from the website https://opentv.media The author is Tetyana Kiryanova

  • The mobile team helped a family of internally displaced persons with children

    A couple with two children and a grandfather settled in the open air in Dnipro. The family pitched a tent in Tunelnaya Balka near the path that the townspeople used to walk on fine days. People passed by the family without stopping and without asking any questions: why the family was here, whether they have housing, money, or need help. A month and a half passed like that. Finally, in the fall, a caring Dnipro resident called the mobile brigade and informed about the family in difficult circumstances. Bohdan and Svitlana, employees of the mobile team of social and psychological assistance of the "MARTIN-club", went to the place and talked with the family. It turned out that they are internally displaced persons from Bakhmut and Siverskodonetsk. After the evacuation to the Dnipro, they lived in a shelter for some time. But later the price for accommodation increased, and the family did not have enough funds to pay the rent. Then they found a new home. Without signing the agreement, they gave the money two months in advance and drove away. Three weeks passed, and the owner appeared ー stated that the family had two hours to vacate the premises. Since no contracts were signed and they were in a foreign city, people were confused. They did not call the police, but settled in a log. Our mobile team consulted the family: they told what services of the organization they could use and offered temporary housing. The family refused. But the psychologist Svitlana did not give up: she called and asked about the family's affairs, warned about rains and cold weather, said that children cannot live in such conditions. In the end, the family accepted the offer ー everyone was moved to a shelter for a temporary stay, and later to a new home that the family found. Safety and respect is everyone's right. To be silent is not an option, to speak is to protect yourself.   Our phones: Dnipro: +38 050 7300889 +38 067 6105801 Pavlograd: +38 067 4524216 +38 099 4524216 Kryvyi Rih +38 067 4524215 +38 099 4524215 Kamyansk +38 067 4524231 +38 099 4524231 The mobile brigades work with the support of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, in coordination with the Office of the Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine. The services of the mobile brigades are provided thanks to the financial support of the US government (USAID Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance ), Canada, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Humanitarian Fund for Ukraine (UHF).

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