[Ukraine]Providing mental care and support packages to Internally Displaced People（IDP）
Peace Winds in cooperation with Ukrainian NGO Right to Protection (R2P) has been providing mental care and support packages to IDPs in areas including Lviv, Vinnytsia, and Chernivtsi regions.
some group consultations are held at libraries
R2P is best known for its mobile teams consisting of psychological and legal experts. Almost every day, the mobile teams visit IDPs living in collective centers as well as outside of such facilities by renting accommodations or living with relatives or friends. With prior survey, R2P prioritizes those who need help the most, such as the elderly, wheel chair users, single parent families, or families with more than three children.
we make sure support packages reach those who need them most
Ukrainian staff of Peace Winds had a chance to be present at one of the psychological group consultations where both IDPs and local residents sit together for a session in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Utilizing the methods of art therapy and metaphorical associative cards, participants shared their internal psychological problems and discover new aspects of their own personalities that they hadn’t noticed before. Some shared with us that they felt good after simply exchanging the words “thank you” as part of the practice.
85-year-old librarian Ms. Liliya Andriivna took part in the session as one of the locals. She shared her story of maintaining positive attitude toward life while fighting a cancer for the third time in her life, which inspired all the participants. They made sure that they support each other and expressed their firm desire to continue such group sessions.
Ms. Andriivna (fourth from the left)
Among those who received individual consultation were a couple of pianists who used to live in Kherson region. They met each other in the Baku Music Academy long time ago. The cultured couple who devoted their whole lives to art and music maintained positive attitude telling jokes despite the troubles they faced, but it became clear that they were concerned if their home and grand piano had survived the Russian attacks. Their hometown was deoccupied but still is too dangerous to go back. We all hope that the day will come soon when the couple have their peace to be able to play the piano they love.
the pianist couple with Kateryna from Peace Winds (on the right)
●food distribution has started
The mobile team have delivered so far more than 5,000 sets of food packages and more than 2,000 sets of hygiene products.
Upon receiving the packages, 57-year-old Valentyna said she had been having a hard time finding a job partly because of her age. So food package was quite helpful especially when all the prices are going up. She said she had not received such help since last August.
Valentyna
Victoria
Victoria, 17, from Donetsk region, lived in the hottest spot in Ukraine under constant shelling for three months since February 24, 2022. However, on May 25, another round of shelling hit her house and nothing was left of it. That’s when, making hershe and her mother decided to evacuate. With the help of Ukrainian military, theyVictoria and her mother managed to leave for a safer place. The two live together with other IDPs in a collective center in Lviv trying to rebuild their lives. Since Victoriashe is a minor and can not work, she finds the food kit very supportive.
●support for those who live outside of collective centers were highly appreciated
There are many IDPs who live outside of collective centers. Some pay for their own housings in host communities and these are the people whothey are out of the reach ofnot receiving humanitarian aid. R2P’s work to reach out to these IDPs who live outside of collective centers was highly appreciated and given a written gratitude from the Drohobych City administration. “R2P truly hears our needs. You are the first organization that dealt with took the problems of the IDPs living outside of collective centers,” head of the social protection departmentHead of the Social Protection Department told R2P Project Manager.project manager.
the plaque of written gratitude given to R2P from Drohobych City
●our driver of the distribution team is also an IDP
One of the drivers of R2P, Dmytro, had to leave his hometown in Donetsk region in 2015 with his wife when the city was occupied by separatists. They moved to Valnovaha, but had to move to the western part of Ukraine after the Russia’s full scale invasion by the Russians last year. Dmytro moved to Lviv with his wife, taking care of his mother-in-law and handicapped nephew. Having worked as driver for more than 20 years, he applied to for a driver position in R2P team. He feels happy that he can beabout being helpful for humanitarian projects as he knows the difficulties of IDPs firsthand. His is positive-minded and never lose faith in better future, which encourages people around him.
Dmytro (on the left)
●providing legal advice
Qualified legal aid consultants of R2P’s mobile teams provide legal support to IDPs for free.
In one a group consultation session in late March, first part of the meeting was in the form of lecture about the updates on the Ukrainian legislation in terms of compensation for the lost property after the full invasion by Russia. This is one of the biggest concerns which IDPs address the lawyers since the beginning of the war. Also the legal aid consultants provided the help in signing applications, informational cards and gave some recommendations on how to use digital services in obtaining some types of documents. Second half of the meeting was devoted to discussing individual issues IDPs had.
legal consultation
●psychoneurological institution
Among IDPs, there are people whosome have preexisting physical and mental conditions that require special care. One of them is Marina, who were treated at a psychoneurological institution in Zaporizhzhia region where constant missile attacks and high risk of explosion at the nuclear power station made it difficult for her to stay. She has a mental condition and suffers from frequent memory loss, but now she feels secure and free. She is happy because the residents of current institution are allowed to have their personal belongings such as mobile phones. Having personal things around gives her a sense of security and freedom.
Marina (center, left photo)
a monastery was renovated into a psychoneurological institution
A totalTotal of 146 people including 26 IDPs live in this institution. Peace Winds in cooperation with R2P started delivering hygiene kits and non-medical equipments to this institution.
Mental and legal support for the IDPs and for the host community which help the IDPs will continue to be important as hardships in Ukraine prolongs. Your kind support is highly appreciated. Thank you.
This project has been supported by the fund provided by the Japan Platform.