Last year, the psychosocial support mobile teams of the “Team4UA” Charitable Foundation launched their operations in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast for the first time under the “EASE-1” project. At that time, in just 6 months, the specialists managed to provide consultations to 814 people, including local residents and internally displaced persons (IDPs).
This experience demonstrated the critical importance of mobile teams’ work in the region and laid a solid foundation for scaling up and continuing these activities. In June of this year, the “Team4UA” CF resumed the deployments of mobile teams, this time within the framework of the “EASE-2” project.
This time, the key focus of the specialists’ work is directed toward providing comprehensive psychosocial support to children and families who are forced to face the daily consequences of prolonged stress caused by the full-scale war. The assistance is tailored both for families from among the local population and IDP families integrating into the communities of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.
Currently, two mobile teams have been deployed in the region. Each team consists of specialists from various fields, allowing them to address beneficiaries’ problems systematically: a mobile team coordinator, two female psychologists, two female case management specialists, and two female social workers.
According to Vira Vyshnevetska, the coordinator of the mobile teams, the teams’ activities see a steady demand from the communities:
We see a high response to our work. Most often, we receive requests regarding children’s anxiety, difficulties with adaptation after displacement, emotional exhaustion among parents, and the need for simple self-regulation tools for children. It is important that people are looking not only for crisis intervention but also for regular support that helps gradually restore inner balance
Vira Vyshnevetska, the Сoordinator of the mobile teams.
The mobile teams operate in a field format, regularly visiting communities and organizing useful activities based in existing spaces—culture houses, schools, libraries, temporary accommodation centers, and other safe locations where children and families can receive professional support directly near their place of residence.
One of the recent deployments was made by “Team4UA” specialists to Dnipro, where they conducted several thematic activities for local and IDP families. These events were aimed at supporting children’s emotional well-being, developing self-regulation skills, and creating a safe environment where everyone can freely express their feelings.
Specifically, thematic activities for children and families were held in Dnipro, two of which included: a creative developmental session on building emotional resilience at the “Shturm-Topol” sports club, and a masterclass for families raising children with disabilities in a local library space.
Both events aimed to support children’s emotional well-being, develop self-regulation skills, and create a safe environment where every child can freely express their feelings and receive the necessary support.
Introducing the World of Emotions Through Creativity for Children at the “Shturm-Topol” Sports Club, Dnipro
At the “Shturm-Topol” sports club, Tetiana Tkachenko, PSS Officer at Team4UA, conducted a creative developmental session for children aged 8–12 from a summer camp, dedicated to exploring emotions and self-regulation skills. Through games, drawing, sculpting, and interactive exercises, the participants learned to recognize their own emotions, talk about their experiences, and find ways to cope during difficult emotional states.
During the session, the children explored what can trigger sadness, fear, or anger, and discussed their own resources that help restore inner balance. Special attention was paid to the topic of emotional overload and simple self-regulation practices that can be used in daily life.
Today, it is especially important for children to have a safe space where they can talk about their feelings without fear of being misunderstood. Through creativity and play, we help them better understand themselves, develop emotional resilience, and find their own resources to overcome difficulties.
Tetiana Tkachenko, PSS Officer at Team4UA.
Creative Therapy in a Dnipro Library: Creating “Khvylyalka” Dolls for Children with Disabilities
Another activity took place in a library space, where Nataliia Krasovska, PSS Officer at Team4UA, met with families raising children with disabilities. During the “Khvylyalka – A Pocket Helper” masterclass, the children created their own toys, which became not only the result of creative work but also personal symbols of support and inner strength.
Each child assigned a special role to their Khvylyalka doll. For some, it became a friend; for others, a protector, a helper, or a guardian angel. Such images help children safely express their anxieties, feelings, and needs.
Sometimes it is easier for a child to talk about their emotions through an image or a character they created themselves. Such creative practices help reduce anxiety, develop sensory skills, and form a sense of security. At the same time, it is an opportunity for parents to better understand their child’s inner world
Nataliia Krasovska, PSS Officer at Team4UA.
A special part of the meeting was the performance “The Flower That Will Bring Peace,” presented by the children themselves. Through creativity, they shared their dreams of a peaceful future and a safe childhood.
Support That Helps Build Resilience
Thanks to the mobile format, the teams ensure access to psychosocial support in communities, reaching both local residents and internally displaced persons. Through individual and group consultations, psychoeducational and creative activities, specialists help reduce anxiety levels, develop self-regulation skills, and strengthen a sense of security.
Thus, Team4UA mobile teams remain an essential element of support in communities, providing a comprehensive approach to the psychosocial well-being of families living under the prolonged stress caused by the war.
The “Team4UA” CF continues to work toward ensuring that children and families have access to quality psychosocial support and safe spaces where they can restore their strength, build resilience, and develop a sense of confidence in the future.
As a reminder, in addition to Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Team4UA’s psychosocial support mobile teams are also actively working and providing assistance in Lviv Oblast.
📞 If you live in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast and would like to request a mobile team visit to your community, please leave a request via our hotline—it is free of charge.
- Hotline number: 0 800 400 335
- Operating hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM.
The psychosocial support mobile teams operate within the framework of the TERA Consortium with financial support from the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund (UHF). The TERA Consortium was established by the “Team4UA” Charitable Foundation. The activities are carried out under the “EASE-2” project.
