Psychosocial Support Spaces for Children and Adults in Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk Regions

Residents of the eastern regions of Ukraine are in a constant state of stress due to uncertainty and frequent shelling of populated areas. The public sector and the government have created many support services, but most of the attention is directed towards regional centers and large cities. After experiencing the trauma of war, losses, and separation from family, both children and adults especially need support and assistance. People who have suffered trauma require not only medical care but also psychosocial support to recover their well-being and return to a normal life.

Posmishka Spaces aim to provide comprehensive psychosocial support and case management for children and adults. The project’s goal is to create a safe and inclusive environment where children, adults, and the elderly can receive the necessary assistance, feel supported, and find new opportunities for emotional and social development.

Main activities of the project:

• Setting up spaces for art therapy sessions, group activities, and other events aimed at improving the psychosocial well-being of children, adults, and the elderly.
• Providing psychosocial support within the spaces, as well as deploying mobile teams for those unable to visit our main locations.
• Case management services—individualized support tailored to the specific needs of each person, including the provision of cash assistance.
• Enhancing the capacity of psychosocial support spaces in conflict-affected communities.

Four communities were selected for the project’s implementation, two in Zaporizhzhia and two in Dnipropetrovsk regions, based on several criteria: population analysis, assessment of the impact of the war on the community, and the availability of other non-municipal protection services. These criteria, along with site visits and informational online sessions from foundation specialists, allowed us to identify the communities where the project would have the greatest impact and provide the most support to the population.

Communities where the Spaces will be opened:

Dnipropetrovsk region:

• Ilarionivska settlement territorial community of Synelnykove district
• Pershotravneva rural territorial community of Nikopol district

Zaporizhzhia region:

• Dolynska settlement territorial community of Zaporizhzhia district
• Bilenkivska territorial community of Zaporizhzhia district

The “Posmishka Space” project—psychosocial support and case management for children and adults—is implemented by the Charitable Foundation “Posmishka UA” with the support of the USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance.