Supporting refugees on Ukrainian borders

As the new school year gets underway in Ukraine, our "Resilience Space" program is working hard to equip educators with the mental health tools they need to support their students.

This year, we've partnered with local organizations to roll out a comprehensive training program focusing on stress management, self-regulation, and practical activities for shelters. We've already trained nearly 300 staff members from 17 schools, with 31 educational institutions now participating in the program.

We've also designed special "alert backpacks" that teachers can grab on their way to the shelter. They're filled with tools like board games and a psychological support card game to keep students engaged and calm, even during long alerts.

One of the most powerful examples of this program's impact comes from a school community that was forced to relocate from occupied Melitopol. The staff re-established their school entirely underground in Zaporizhzhia to keep students safe. We held a special two-day intensive training for the staff, who described it as a "huge support." They told us they now feel "much better equipped to care for themselves and be there for the pupils in a more professional way." With their new skills, they organized one of only two school-based summer camps in the entire region!

In August, we also brought together 40 educators from across Ukraine for our third annual Best Psychosocial Practices in Education Forum. They connected with colleagues, shared experiences, and collaborated on long-term, sustainable psychosocial solutions for the national education system.

Thanks to your support, more school communities are creating safe and resilient environments for thousands of children navigating this new academic year.

As the war in Ukraine continues unabated, IsraAID's mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) initiatives provide ongoing support to communities navigating profound loss, displacement, stress, and trauma. This has been especially critical in recent weeks, following devastating attacks on civilian infrastructure. On April 17, 2025, a large-scale missile and drone strike killed eight people, including two children, and injured more than 80 people across eight regions. Thanks to our long-term investment in local capacity, IsraAID-trained psychologists were already embedded in hospitals across the country and ready to offer immediate support to patients, families, and doctors.

Two railway workers were also injured on April 17. IsraAID’s MHPSS and first-aid training for Ukrainian Railway staff helped the team respond quickly and stay emotionally grounded under pressure. We deliver regular sessions to help essential workers cope with daily risks, sharing practical guidance on topics like CPR and trauma-informed care, in collaboration with the Ukrainian Railway Workers Union.

Similarly, schoolteachers were already learning about stress management, self-regulation, and shelter-based activities through our proactive approach to strengthening the education sector with integrated MHPSS. They leveraged this knowledge to support students and colleagues in real-time during the attacks.

As continued attacks forced communities to spend more tough nights in shelters, IsraAID’s Quokka Hubs provided much-needed creative and emotional outlets for dozens of children. For example, after three consecutive nights of missile alerts in May, we led a shelter-painting activity as soon as it was safe to be outside. This helped children express themselves at the same time as creating a sense of ownership and making the shelters more comfortable.

With no end to the war in sight, it remains critical that IsraAID keeps integrating MHPSS into existing systems. For example, not only did we launch a fourth Doctor, Psychologist, Patient cycle last month – with 30 more clinical psychologists starting advanced training to deliver practical psychosocial care in hospitals – but we are also working to scale up this initiative with national-level advocacy. The training began just days before the April 17 attack, underscoring the urgent need for this work.

IsraAID has supported Ukrainian communities facing the catastrophic effects of full-scale war since February 2022. Through our continued presence and long-term programming, we will continue partnering with them to respond to each new emergency while building the emotional resilience and local leadership needed to withstand the ongoing realities of war. As one team member put it, “After every attack, we face another emergency – all within an ongoing war. Our job is to provide support that is relevant, responsive, and rooted in care.”