In March 2025, SA2U supported a spring psychological rehabilitation camp organized by Ukraine Alive for 121 children aged 7 to 16 who lost their parents in the war. The camp took place from March 24 to 29 at the Presidential Residence in Stara Huta village, Ivano-Frankivsk region. For six days, the children found safety, warmth, and hope. They painted, sang, played, and discovered new horizons – and for many, smiled sincerely for the first time in a long while.
| Aid Partner: | Ukraine Alive |
| Funds: | EUR 2,500 |
| Region: | Ivano-Frankivsk |
| Aid provided: | Six-day psychological rehabilitation camp using art therapy, children’s theater, and psychotherapeutic techniques |
| Beneficiaries: | 121 children aged 7-16 who lost parents in the war, from 14+ regions of Ukraine |
The camp used art therapy, children’s theater, and special psychotherapeutic techniques to help children process traumatic memories. Children came from over 14 regions of Ukraine including Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Odesa, and Lviv. Many lost their homes or were forced to move from frontline zones. The vast majority lost one parent, mostly their father.
The results were measurable and moving. Psychological testing using the Impact of Event Scale showed significant improvement. Before the camp, 16% of children showed critical levels of PTSD and 34% showed high levels. After the camp, critical levels dropped to 3% and high levels to 20%. For these children, six days of safety, creativity, and connection made a real, quantifiable difference.
This was Ukraine Alive’s fifth rehabilitation camp supported by SA2U, building on a partnership that has helped hundreds of children begin to heal from the invisible wounds of war. Each camp proves that with the right environment and professional support, even the deepest trauma can begin to lift.
Find out more:
Ukraine Alive is a volunteer-led organization dedicated to providing humanitarian aid and rehabilitation programs for Ukrainian communities affected by the conflict. Their children’s camps combine professional psychological support with creative activities to help young people process trauma and rediscover joy. Learn more about previous camps: SA2U Projects Page.
