Project goal: to train specialists to work with a vulnerable population group – internally displaced persons and children of internally displaced persons (IDPs); to conduct an information campaign on children's rights among children and to provide psychosocial support to internally displaced children and their integration into local communities in the city of Kyiv and the Odessa region.

Project implementation period: 01.2016-02.2018.

Project location: Kyiv city and Odesa region.

Results achieved

Based on the results of the assessment of the capacity of civil society organizations (CSOs) and the mapping of existing local support services for IDP children:

• developed methodology and guidelines for working with internally displaced children and children affected by armed conflict;
• Trainings and seminars were held for specialists to familiarize themselves with the developed methodology: 321 specialists from organizations working with children and youth underwent training.

Action plans for the integration of IDP children in host communities have also been developed and agreed with local authorities. To implement the action plans:

– sub-grants were provided to local CSOs to implement reintegration actions at the community level: local CSOs provided psychological support to IDP children and their families, 3 child-friendly centers were created (528 children became clients of such centers, in total, 3702 children from 576 families were covered by CSO services);

– Scout recreation camps were organized for IDP children (584 children participated in the camps);

– a campaign aimed at integrating IDP children into local communities was launched: “Join the ChildRightsChallenge”.

In total, 7717 children were covered by the services, of which 3683 were boys and 4034 were girls, 3598 of the children covered were IDPs, and 1025 families with IDPs covered by the project were IDPs.

Together with the Department of Psychology of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, we have developed Handbook on psychosocial integration and rehabilitation for IDP children and families, opened 2 child-friendly centers in Ukraine(NEST center) according to the Dutch methodology and have sent thousands of children to summer camps in SJO, and we also send young people to international trainings and exchanges.

Here you can read the stories in our project – http://lhsi.org.ua/s94-istoriyi-uchasnikiv-proektu-nova-oselya

Grantor: European Union.