The goal of this project was to develop a non-formal training program with and for displaced Ukrainian people that could help them to cope with the challenges of adaptation to new contexts, increase their psychological resilience, agency and the feeling of self-esteem.
Ukrainian people who have arrived in the EU countries because of the Russian invasion have been mostly provided with housing, basic medical care, access to education, and a possibility of employment. However, they continue to face challenges in adapting to and establishing themselves in the host communities. Many people experience distress, isolation, a feeling of helplessness, lowered self-esteem, and depression. Due to the size of this group and the language barrier their access to professional psychological help available in host countries remains limited. The traumatic events that people have been through, and the uncertainty of their current situation put them in an increased risk of psychological problems, which can hinder their physical and mental health, wellbeing and civic participation. Through continuous involvement with the group, multiple personal conversations and research, partners have come to a conclusion that a participatory workshop program for displaced Ukrainian people focused on resilience and adaptation, could reduce the risk of mental health problems and ease the challenges that people face.