Restoring Hope, Healing Hearts, Rebuilding Futures
Project Partner: Sincere Heart, Ukraine
Project Location: Ukraine, with a focus on children and mothers from frontline, de-occupied and heavily affected communities.
Project Overview
The Hope & Recovery Ukraine Project is an initiative of Stichting Shekinah – Help the Needy, in partnership with the Ukrainian charitable organization Sincere Heart, to support children and mothers who have been affected by the war in Ukraine.
More than four years of war have exposed children and families to displacement, loss of homes, separation, bereavement, repeated air-raid alerts, violence, uncertainty and prolonged psychological stress.
Through this project, Shekinah will contribute to Recovery Camps, providing vulnerable children and their mothers with a safe environment where they can begin to recover emotionally, reconnect with others and regain hope for the future.

What the project provides

The Recovery Camps combine several forms of support:

• Professional psychological support for children and mothers
• Individual and group sessions with psychologists
• Art therapy and creative activities
• Play and recreational activities for children
• Body-oriented practices
• Sports and physical activities
• Psychoeducation and stress-management activities
• Screening for signs of PTSD among participating children
• Family and social activities that strengthen relationships
• Follow-up psychological support where necessary

The programme is designed not simply to give families a temporary break from the realities of war, but to provide structured psychosocial support that can contribute to longer-term recovery.

Who We Want to Help
The project will prioritize:

• Children from frontline and de-occupied areas
• Mothers and children who have experienced displacement
• Families who have lost their homes
• Children exposed to prolonged war-related stress
• Internally displaced families
• Families who have experienced bereavement or separation
• Other vulnerable families identified by local partners

Why This Project Matters

Children should have the opportunity to experience childhood—not only war.
For many Ukrainian children, fear and uncertainty have become part of everyday life. Hope & Recovery Ukraine seeks to create a safe space where children can play, learn, express themselves, receive professional support and simply experience moments of safety and joy.
The Recovery Camp model has already been scientifically evaluated. A 2025 JAMA Network Open study examined six-day psychosocial recovery camps involving children affected by the war and reported that 75% of participating children showed an improved overall psychosocial state following the intervention.

Our Goal

The overall goal of the Hope & Recovery Ukraine Project is:
To help children and mothers affected by war regain emotional strength, restore hope, strengthen family relationships and move toward a healthier and more resilient future.

Our Role as Stichting Shekinah

Shekinah would seek to raise funds in the Netherlands and provide financial support toward one or more Recovery Camps in Ukraine.

Depending on the funding available, our contribution could help cover:

• Accommodation
• Meals
• Transportation for participating families
• Psychological professionals
• Camp facilitators
• Art and therapeutic materials
• Sports and recreational activities
• Child-friendly educational materials
• Medical/psychological screening
• Follow-up support
• Other essential camp costs

The Ukrainian partner currently describes six-day camps serving approximately 65 participants in its programme information.

HOPE & RECOVERY UKRAINE

Helping Ukrainian Children and Mothers Heal, Recover and Hope Again
The war in Ukraine has left millions of families facing loss, displacement, fear and prolonged emotional stress. Children in particular carry wounds that are not always visible.
Through our Hope & Recovery Ukraine Project, Stichting Shekinah – Help the Needy partners with local organizations in Ukraine to support children and mothers affected by the war.
We help provide access to safe Recovery Camps where families can receive professional psychological support, participate in creative and recreational activities, rebuild relationships and experience moments of safety, joy and hope.