From Supporting Individuals to Building Hromada Resilience: East SOS Results in May
At a time when teenagers often find themselves alone with their feelings, while adults tend to put self-care off “until later,” support can begin with something simple – having an opportunity to be heard and to better understand oneself and others.
In May, the psychological support team of the East SOS continued its work in hromadas across Kyiv, Chernihiv and Lviv oblasts. We organised 10 activities for 114 participants.
In Brovary and Shevchenkove in Kyiv Oblast, invited Psychologist Tetiana Kucher facilitated two support groups using the “I Can” guide. The sessions provided a space where teenagers could talk about themselves without judgment, share their thoughts and listen to others. Through exercises and group interaction, participants gradually became more open, supported one another and learned to recognise their own strengths. For many, the opportunity to talk about themselves without fear of judgment and to be heard by their peers was an important experience.
While it is important for teenagers to learn to speak openly about their feelings, for many adults the challenge is recognising their own fatigue and need for support in time.
This was the focus of five “I Can” psychological support groups with art therapy sessions facilitated by East SOS Psychological Support Program Manager Maryna Danyliuk and Psychologist Tetiana Kucher in Vyshneve and Nizhyn. Participants included educators, activists, war veterans, and family of servicemembers, including both internally displaced people and local residents. Psychological practices, group discussions, creative activities, and conversations about loss, change and personal achievements helped not only reduce tension but also redirect participants’ attention to what gives them the strength to keep moving forward.
Another activity was a two-day training session “Basic Understanding of Psychological Trauma Through the Lens of Body-Oriented Exercises” facilitated in Chernihiv by Psychologist and Trauma Therapist Anastasiia Martynenko. Participants learned how stress and psychological trauma affect people and practised simple body-based self-regulation techniques. Many noted that the training helped them better understand their own state and feel more connected with themselves.
“I realised that support does not always mean finding the right advice or solution. Sometimes it is enough for someone to listen to you attentively and give you space to be with your thoughts. After meetings like these, it becomes a little easier to move forward,” said Olena, a participant in one of the support groups.
Personal resilience largely depends on the quality of our interactions with the people around us. That is why in May, East SOS organised two-day training sessions on strengthening nonviolent communication skills for civil servants, social workers and representatives of civil society organisations.
In Nizhyn, Psychologist and Trainer Viktoriia Preobrazhenska conducted the training “Transforming Conflict Through Nonviolent Communication”, while in Lviv, Psychologist Tetiana Kucher facilitated “Practices of Self-Care, Recovery and Nonviolent Communication”. Participants worked with real-life situations, learned to better understand their own reactions, recognise the needs of others and find common ground even in difficult conversations.
“What makes me happiest is when people begin to see that behind a conflict there is often not a desire to cause harm, but unmet needs, pain or exhaustion. Once this understanding emerges, there is more room for dialogue, cooperation and mutual respect,” says Psychologist and Trainer Viktoriia Preobrazhenska.
Each of these activities has its own purpose and target audience. Yet they all contribute to a common goal – helping people find inner support, build healthier interactions with others and strengthen hromada resilience by supporting the people who make them up.
The activities were implemented within the project “Empowering Civil Society for Nonviolent Conflict Transformation with State Actors” with financial support from KURVE Wustrow.
As a reminder, East SOS invites partners for its 2026 Opinion Festival.
