Kyrylo, a seven-year-old from Verkhivtseve, couldn’t attend preschool due to the pandemic and conflict, limiting his social interactions to family.
Enrolled in a Community Center through the SAFE project funded by the Italian Agency for Development and Cooperation and run by AVSI, VIS and Medici con l'Africa - CUAMM. Kyrylo is now in a safe space where educators and psychologists help him develop social skills.
Initially withdrawn, Kyrylo is now engaging with peers and participating in activities, showing progress with the support of his family and the center.
The SAFE project enhances conditions for displaced and conflict-affected communities in Ukraine, providing crucial services like health and education.
Kyrylo is a seven-year-old boy from Verkhivtseve a town in the Dnipropetrovs'k region. Because of the pandemic and conflict, he, like many other children in Ukraine, did not attend kindergarten, limiting his social interactions to family members only: at home he was curious and active, but extremely shy and unable to communicate with peers. To help him develop his life skills and socialize, his parents decided to enroll him in a community center implemented under the project "SAFE-UKR: Support and Assistance for Families in Emergency in Ukraine" funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and implemented by AVSI, VIS and Doctors with Africa - CUAMM.
Community centers are spaces where Ukrainian children can meet with each other to play without anxiety, fear, even for a while, and where they can find educators, teachers and psychologists capable of supporting them to process with them the fear that accompanies them. Find out more on the page dedicated to AVSI's activities in Ukraine.
The first days at the community center were very difficult for Kyrylo. He would not allow anyone to approach him and did not communicate with other children or educators. Even the drawings, which are often a window into the child's inner world, told of his difficulties: Kyrylo often did doodles without conscious use of colors.
With patience, understanding and an individualized approach, the teachers and psychologist worked hard to create a safe and welcoming environment for Kyrylo: the teachers gently tried to involve him more and more in activities, while the psychologist worked to help him manage his fears and anxieties.
Kyrylo's parents were also undeterred and continued to attend the center with their son, supporting him every step of the way.
Thanks to the work of the center team and family, Kyrylo slowly began to open up to the world: he communicated with classmates using simple sentences, interacted shyly in group activities, and began to draw more carefully.
"One day I approached Kyrylo and asked him if we could write the numbers and letters together," his teacher says, "when he said yes and allowed me to take his hand I looked at his parents. We were excited; Kyrylo was beginning to trust me. This first significant progress marked a change, Kyrylo began to observe and participate in games with other children, he was visibly more confident and serene: his journey is proof that love, family support and the coordinated efforts of teachers and psychologists can help a child overcome difficulties and discover his potential."
The situation of children in Ukraine
Ukraine's education system is structurally fragile, and for children in Ukraine, accessing quality education has always been a challenge.
Moreover, since 2020, many children have had to stop attending school several times: first because of the COVID-19 pandemic, then because of the war. Some children have never attended an educational facility.
The direct consequence of these periods of disruption was a significant loss of socialization opportunities for the children, who had to attend classes exclusively at distance. This had a profound impact on their emotional, social and cognitive development, as they were deprived of direct interaction with peers and experiences that foster personal and relational growth during the early years of education.
AVSI, through its Community centers initiative, actively works to mitigate these negative effects by providing children with a safe and stimulating environment where they can not only attend classes with others, but also regain social skills through recreational activities and psychological support. Teachers and psychologists play a crucial role in providing emotional and educational support, helping children overcome their fears and rebuild confidence in the school and social environment.
With Italian cooperation to support those displaced by war in Ukraine
The SAFE project aims to improve the living conditions of IDPs and communities affected by the conflict in Ukraine, focusing on the Dnipropetrovska, Donetsk, and Zaporizka areas. Through multi-sectoral humanitarian assistance, the project ensures integrated access to vital services such as health, education, and primary care, which are critical to the stability and well-being of the affected families.
AVSI is actively collaborating as a partner with VIS and CUAMM to implement this AICS-funded project, ensuring an inclusive approach that addresses the specific needs of gender and people with disabilities.
The project started in February 2024 and is expected to continue until February 2025, with the goal of establishing a safe and sustainable online and offline learning environment for about 4,000 pupils and teachers in the target areas.
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