East SOS Educators Bring Support to Frontline Communities
Care often begins with simple things: colored pencils on a table, drawing together, and a sincere conversation over a cup of tea.
These small yet meaningful moments inspire educators at the Zatyshno Space psychosocial and legal support centers run by East SOS to create islands of comfort and warmth for people living in frontline cities under constant russian shelling.
Their work extends far beyond the centers’ walls. Educators travel wherever support is needed – to relocated communities from temporarily occupied and frontline territories, as well as to partner hubs, youth spaces, educational institutions, social services, and hospitals.
Between September 2025 and February 2026, educators in Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, and Mykolaiv delivered 46 outreach events, reaching 748 children and 131 adults.
In Zaporizhzhia, Yuliia Pliushch has been supporting young patients at a phthisiopulmonology center for over a year, while Iryna Zaichenko works with young people through the Baida youth movement. The team also supports older adults and young people with special educational needs.
In Kharkiv, educator Oleksandra Avierina works with students at the Slobozhanskyi Lyceum, helping them address bullying and build a culture of mutual respect. Meanwhile, Svitlana Shaforostova introduces UEPA students to art therapy through creative methods such as experimental drawing and clay work, helping them restore emotional balance.
In Mykolaiv, Iryna Pastukh and Oleksandra Tiutiunnykova regularly conduct outreach workshops in communities across the region. Recently, these creative sessions took place in a temporary shelter at the Rybakivskyi Lyceum, where children are forced to study under the constant threat of sea shelling. In these moments, educators help return a sense of childhood.
“Behind every meeting lies much more than just a class or workshop. It is a space of trust, where everyone feels part of a community. Here, children and teenagers reconnect in person after long periods of online learning, while parents find valuable time for themselves or share moments of creativity with their younger children. These sincere interactions are at the heart of the care our educators provide,” shared Anna Loza, Education Program Coordinator at East SOS.
We are open to new connections – both at the Zatyshno Space centers and during outreach visits. If you would like to join our activities, or if your community is looking for support for children and adults in Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, or Mykolaiv – let’s create a safe and supportive space together.
Contact information:
Zaporizhzhia – 3 Pivdennoukrainska St. (Myr St. bus stop)
+38 (097) 021 41 53
Kharkiv – 11 Hohol St.
+38 (097) 384 97 3
5Mykolaiv – 79-A Marko Kropyvnytskyi St.
+38 (099) 790 00 70
The spaces in Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, and Mykolaiv operate within the project “Protection and Essential Psychosocial Support for War-Affected Residents in Frontline Areas,” funded by the German Federal Foreign Office.
Read more stories from the Zatyshno Space centers and discover how East SOS inspires people to care for one another.
