Project Location: Ternopil site, Ukraine
Project Code: HDP UTT0422
Families in Ukraine are facing unprecedented social, economic, and humanitarian challenges.
After this program, the parents will have a greater understanding of their children and reduce conflicts in their homes and social circles. Chalice has partnered with the non-profit World of Children since 1998. The Ternopil site serves underprivileged families in 17 areas around the region, as well as a boarding school.
Families in Ukraine are facing unprecedented social, economic, and humanitarian challenges. The Ternopil site staff can see the strain on families manifesting as conflicts and frustration in their relationships at home. Each family dynamic is different, and some parents have difficulty communicating well and forming meaningful bonds with their family members, in particular their children.
In response to this, the Ternopil site staff teamed up with professionals to develop a 12-month program for parents that tackles these issues in three ways. Firstly, the facilitators educate the parents about how children develop psychologically, and how to handle common challenges at each developmental stage. Secondly, the parents learn techniques for constructive and effective communication, stress management, and conflict resolution. Thirdly, the facilitators encourage the parents to find new perspectives on their lives, their attitudes, and the opportunities they can pursue to find greater meaning and feelings of well-being.
Crucially during this time in Ukraine, the parents will also learn basic skills to support their children and family members through situations related to their experiences of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). They will also give parents tools to navigate the stressors and potential conflicts that arise on the family and community level as a product of the military conflict with Russia.
The site has conducted this program for several years. The sessions are conducted by a professional psychologist. The participants get individual counselling sessions with the psychologist after each session. This year's cohort will include 146 parents of sponsored children and benefit their 462 family members. The families come from 40 villages in 6 regions. The site plans to give families in each Ternopil site community the chance to take the course in future years.
The total cost of this 12-month program is $11,329.74. The entirety of the budget is for the salary of the professional facilitator who conducts the training throughout the year.
After one year, the parents will have a greater understanding of their children and reduce conflicts in their homes and social circles. When they are better able to manage feelings of anger and stress, they can assess situations with greater clarity. The parents also grow in their self-esteem and feel empowered to engage in self-improvement activities.
Budget in Canadian Funds: $11,329.74
Please note that any donations that exceed the request will be used to fund other community projects/programs that may arise.
