[Ukraine]Peace Winds started “Family Hub” activities in Zviahel City
Peace Winds, in cooperation with an Ukrainian NGO Eleos Ukraine, started “Family Hub” activities, in which we provide free legal, social, and psychological support for war-affected women, children, internally displaced people and local residents, in Zviahel City in Zhytomyr Oblast, about 50 km west of Kyiv. Currently the activities take place in our temporary venue while we work on establishing more permanent facility for the activities. We hope to start full-scale activities in the new facility in the fall.
Family Hub” is a place where local residents feel free to visit.
As the Russian attack on Ukraine continues for more than three and a half years, more and more people suffer from various problems in connection with the war. Peace Winds provide legal advice and psychological support by experts at this Family Hub so that people do not have to tackle problems on their own. Visitors can also get information about children’s schools or job opportunities, if necessary.
As for legal advice, experts would help people with filing documents necessary to receive pension, public support, or documents related to real estates and so on. People can seek advice and support in cases of domestic violence at this Family Hub.
An expert on the right provides individual advice to a local resident.
A 77-year-old woman was able to submit an application for a registration to a refugee-assistance organization after a staff at the Family Hub helped her with compiling necessary documents.
As for psychological support, we recommend people to join group activities at the Family Hub so that they could meet people in similar situations under the war and support each other. One of the group activities is art therapy workshop in which soldiers’ wives and mothers learn to express their feelings or learn how to cope with anxieties and sense of loss through art. Individual counselling sessions are also available at the Family Hub.
Participants of art therapies learn to take good care of themselves by releasing suppressed emotion through creative works.
A 49-year-old woman, who lives with her son and in-laws while her husband is away in the military, suffered from insomnia and was unable to feel joy in life since she started feeling that she is burdened with everything all by herself. However, she withheld these feelings because she felt it was inappropriate to talk about her personal issues when everyone bears the burden of the war. After consulting with psychotherapist at the Family Hub, she started to feel better and it shows on her face.
We provide psychological support for children and teenagers in coordination with their guardians. Specialists who are well versed in adolescent psychology help minors with their control of emotions, self-esteem, or with ways to handle bullying and so on.
Young people learn about ways to cope with stress.
Our staff and specialists at the Family Hub strive to make this place safe, comfortable and hopeful for anyone in the community.
Experienced experts at the Family Hub provide customized services to each visitors.
This project has been made possible with grant from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and generous support of the people. We appreciate your continued support.