Two Days of the Game of Hearts Hackathon in Berezne, Rivne Region
Teenagers express difficult emotions in different ways: some fall silent, others joke, and some struggle to put their thoughts into words. But when they enter a space where they are truly listened to, everything changes.
East SOS created such a space on November 8–9 in Berezne (Rivne region) by organizing a psychological hackathon on non-violent communication called “Game of Hearts.” The event brought together 15 teenagers, psychologist Tetiana Kucher, and three volunteers who facilitated thematic stations.
These two days became a time of intense transformation and discovery. Participants explored their own reactions; some discovered the true meaning of the word “need,” while others experienced – perhaps for the first time – what it feels like to speak without being interrupted and, most importantly, to be heard. The group learned to look at one another not through judgment, but through observation – and the difference was profound.
Gradually, the teenagers became more open and more confident in formulating requests, learning to be attentive to the feelings of others. Not all exercises were easy. The practice of non-violent communication, with its four-step structure, proved especially powerful. At certain moments, participants paused, realizing how long it had been since they had spoken honestly about their own feelings. There were tears, silence, deep breaths – and relief.
At first, everyone acted in their own way, but over time a sense of mutual support and team rhythm began to emerge. This was especially evident during the hands-off interaction, where success was impossible without the support of others.
“I never thought it was possible to talk so simply and honestly about my experiences and be listened to without judgment. It felt like allowing myself to be real for the first time,” one of the participants shared.
For our team, this hackathon became yet another confirmation that non-violent communication skills do more than change behavior – they transform the atmosphere itself. This group demonstrated just how ready teenagers are for sincerity when they are provided with a safe space and attentive support.
The training sessions were conducted as part of the project “Empowering Civil Society for Nonviolent Conflict Transformation with State Actors,” implemented with the financial support of KURVE Wustrow.
In June, East SOS held a Game of Hearts Hackathon in Chernihiv.
