Unbreakable Mom: we revive women for the Revival of Ukraine

The project “Unbreakable Mom: Reviving Women for the Revival of Ukraine” was published on the website of the Charitable Organization International Charitable Foundation “Ukrainian Charity Exchange” (dobro.ua) on April 4, 2023. However, the project was initially titled “Unbreakable Mom: Gifts for Donations”. In accordance with Letter No. 12 dated May 31, 2023, the project title was subsequently changed.

The goal of the project was to raise funds for the rehabilitation of 100 people — women and children affected by the war in Ukraine — within the framework of a psychological rehabilitation program. We aimed to help affected women and children stabilize their emotional and psychological well-being and return to a more normal way of life. The cost per participant included the work of psychologists, therapists, and the project team, as well as participants’ accommodation and meals.

The initial project budget was set at UAH 3,000,000.00. However, as fundraising progressed very slowly, it was not possible to raise the full amount over an extended period. Therefore, a decision was made to stop fundraising at UAH 1,365,597.87 and use the funds raised for the project’s intended purposes.

Thanks to the funds raised through the Dobro.ua platform, we were able to organize and conduct three project sessions: Session No. 3 (April 9–30, 2024), which was fully funded; Session No. 5 (April 7–28, 2024), which was partially funded; and Session No. 101 (September 8–18, 2026), which was partially funded.

During the three-week sessions held in 2024, we were able to provide accommodation and meals for participants and support the work of 9 psychologists, 2 art therapists, and 2 body-oriented therapists, who worked comprehensively to improve the psychological well-being of women and children. The team also included 2 session coordinators/methodologists and 2 group administrators.

Thanks to these joint efforts, 32 women and 34 children received psychological support. Both participants and project specialists noted significant improvements upon completion of the sessions.

Session No. 101

As part of the 101st session of the “Unbreakable Mom” project (September 8–18, 2026), which was partially funded by donors and partners of dobro.ua, an 11-day comprehensive psychological support and recovery program was implemented for 18 women and 24 children affected by the war.

Among the participants:

• 9 women had experienced the loss of a loved one;

• 9 women were experiencing ambiguous loss — awaiting the return of a loved one from captivity or information about a missing person;

• 5 families lived within 20–50 km of the frontline.

The purpose of the program was to help women stabilize their emotional and psychological state, reconnect with themselves, better understand their own needs and emotions, strengthen their inner resilience, and develop practical self-help skills. A separate safe space was created for children, providing psychological support, creativity, communication, and opportunities for recovery.

The support was not limited to a single service or one-time consultation. Instead, it focused on a comprehensive recovery process for the entire family throughout the session.

The program provided:

• accommodation and a safe environment for families throughout the 11-day program;

• the work of a team of 11 specialists;

• organizational and methodological support for the program;

• opportunities for physical recovery and wellness at the sanatorium;

• individual psychological consultations for women and children — 84 hours;

• resource-oriented group sessions for women — 16 hours;

• body-oriented group sessions for women — 16 hours;

• children’s resource-oriented group sessions — 16 hours;

• art therapy sessions for women — 12 hours;

• sessions for schoolchildren and adolescents — 12 hours;

• as well as psychoeducational training, EMDR-based self-help techniques, a parents’ club, family sessions, children’s recreational activities, and other restorative activities.

This means that each family received not just an individual service, but a comprehensive package of support adapted to the needs of mothers and their children.

Results for Participants

The investment in the program enabled participants to have time and a safe space to recover from experiences of loss, uncertainty, and prolonged stress.

According to the observations of the specialists, participants demonstrated positive changes in their emotional and psychological well-being throughout the session. These changes were also supported by testing conducted on the independent Healthy Mind platform.

A comparative analysis of the Healthy Mind assessment results at the beginning and end of the session demonstrated significant positive dynamics across most key indicators of participants’ emotional and psychological well-being. The most substantial changes were recorded in the following areas:

• Overall Healthy Mind assessment index: 54.8 → 69.8

• Symptoms of depression: 45.4 → 17.4

• Symptoms of anxiety: 57.1 → 19.1

• Symptoms of PTSD: 55.1 → 27.0

• Re-experiencing of traumatic experiences: 56.3 → 35.0

• Avoidance of trauma-related experiences: 53.2 → 24.1

• Feelings of threat and danger: 42.1 → 22.2

• Difficulties with emotional regulation: 43.8 → 32.6

• Negative self-perception: 38.7 → 26.2

• Difficulties in interpersonal interaction: 37.0 → 22.5

Participants:

• became better able to recognize their own emotions and needs;

• improved their connection with their bodies and awareness of bodily signals;

• gained practical self-regulation tools;

• strengthened their sense of inner resilience and support;

• became more aware of and better able to maintain personal boundaries;

• gained experience of safe interaction and mutual support;

• experienced a reduced sense of isolation through group participation and the realization that “I am not alone.”

An important outcome was also the work with internal tension and aggression. Through psychological, body-oriented, and creative practices, women had an opportunity to better understand their reactions and find more constructive ways of interacting with themselves and those around them.

An important feature of the program was its focus not only on women individually, but on the family as a whole.

While mothers worked with psychologists, children participated in their own group sessions, consultations, creative activities, and games. This made it possible to create a separate supportive space for every member of the family.

Family sessions, a dance evening, joint art activities, and other events helped restore emotional connections between mothers and children and create positive experiences of spending time together.

Thanks to the program being implemented at the Morshyn Sanatorium, participants and their children had the opportunity to undergo medical examinations, receive health and spa treatments, and drink therapeutic mineral water.

During their free time, families walked in the park and forest, relaxed by the lake, and participated in excursions.

The combination of psychological support, physical recovery, and safe recreation created conditions in which participants could not only talk about their experiences but also gradually restore their physical and emotional resources.

Participants’ Feedback

“I sincerely thank the team. My overall emotional state has improved, and I understand what I need to do next and where to move forward. My interaction with my children and my understanding of how to behave in different situations have improved. There is incredible support here, both from the team and from the girls participating in the project.”

“You are absolutely amazing 💗💗💗💗”

“We were met at night, accommodated quickly, and given time to adapt on the first day. The project rules were explained to us. There was a lot of encouragement and interaction with the project participants, as well as sincerity and openness from all the psychologists, including the director, on the opening day. The activities and self-soothing techniques were very interesting…”

“I wish the foundation continued to grow and was able to help all the women in Ukraine who need it. Special thanks to the team for their understanding and wonderful attitude toward women during such a difficult time.”

Participants’ feedback is an important complement to the quantitative indicators and helps demonstrate the real changes experienced by people as a result of the program’s support.

The most important outcome of this investment was not only the number of sessions conducted or consultations provided, but the changes with which participants returned home: a greater understanding of themselves, a stronger sense of inner resilience, practical self-help tools, and the experience of knowing that they do not have to face their pain alone.

For women who have experienced loss or continue to live with uncertainty, access to professional support and a safe space for recovery is an important step toward returning to a fulfilling life.

We sincerely thank the donor for investing in this recovery process. Thanks to your support, 50 women and 58 children received not simply accommodation in a safe environment, but comprehensive support that helps them rebuild themselves and their families.

At present, all funds transferred by the Ukrainian Charity Exchange have been fully spent in accordance with the needs of our beneficiaries.

We sincerely thank the donors and partners of dobro.ua for their assistance and support!

Звіт

Narrative project implementation report Financial report on the project results Agreement_1 Payment order_1

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Лист-прохання про перенесення термінів використання коштів Closing project letter Letter to change the name and description of the project Лист на розміщення проєкту