We’ve teamed up with local organizations in Ukraine and in Poland to provide women survivors with holistic and comprehensive care, including psychosocial support, counselling services as well as skill-based training.
What is happening in Ukraine:
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine enters its third year on 24 February 2025, leaving a devastating humanitarian crisis in its wake. Millions have been forced from their homes, making it one of the world’s largest displacement crises. Women and children continue to bear the brunt of this catastrophe, both as internally displaced people and refugees in neighboring countries.
The situation is only worsening. Civilian casualties surged by 30% in 2024 compared to the previous year, and 14.6 million people now require urgent humanitarian assistance and protection. The intensified fighting has triggered new waves of displacement, with the most vulnerable forced to flee once again. Meanwhile, the toll on homes and infrastructure is staggering. More than 2 million homes have been damaged or destroyed in the past two years, leaving countless families without shelter. Civilians and critical infrastructure remain under relentless attack, deepening the crisis.
“When your house has been destroyed, your relatives killed and it seems that life is over and darkness and evil surround you, it is important to offer a ray of hope. To show the dawn is coming soon, to extend a hand of support and start taking the first steps towards a normal life together.”
- Iryna Andreeva, Co-Founder, The Andreev Foundation
As 2025 begins, 12.7 million people require urgent aid and protection services, with 3.6 million still displaced inside Ukraine. With humanitarian needs growing more severe, the world must not look away.
Meeting the Needs of Women Survivors in Ukraine:
To meet the urgent needs of these women, we launched a Conflict Response Fund for Ukraine in 2022, led by our sister organization, Žene za Žene International, in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Žene za Žene International's Director, Seida Sarić, who lived through the siege of Sarajevo and built up a highly effective program for survivors of war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is now leading our response to the needs of marginalized women in this war.
She shared: "Russian invasion of Ukraine reminds me so much of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I lived through the war for four years. It’s our turn now to support women in Ukraine."
Iryna during a session with survivors at The Andreiev Foundation. Credit: Demi Savon.
Through our partnership with The Andreiev Foundation, we’re supporting mobile teams of psychologists who travel to reach women survivors in areas of Ukraine that were formerly occupied by Russian forces.
Women who survive conflict-related sexual violence are often reluctant to come forward and access help. Following their ordeal, many women describe a sense of apathy. Iryna Andreeva, Co-Founder of The Andreev Foundation, shared,
“Women survivors of war in Ukraine tell us they don’t know how to deal with what’s happened to them. They speak about losing the will to live, a 'black void' and struggling to look after themselves and their children.”
Since 2022, we’ve been working with The Andreiev Foundation, who provide holistic support to women in Ukraine. Through our ongoing partnership, they are delivering comprehensive psychological assistance and medical treatment, particularly gynecological and reproductive healthcare. In addition to individual psychological support, group sessions are also conducted.
Together, we build trust with women in these communities, providing survivors of sexual violence with psychological aid and raising awareness of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to support larger numbers of women suffering from war-related trauma. Women and children have access to an emergency Crisis Psychological Support (CPS) hotline, through which they receive support and counseling.
For women survivors of sexual violence who remain in the occupied territories of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions, we’re setting up a hotline for psychological counseling. We’re also providing skills training for internally displaced women to help them access new job opportunities.
Through our partnership, we also offer support and accompaniment during criminal investigations and trials related to Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV) and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).
Bereginya,The Mariupol Women’s Association
Art Therapy Session at Bereginya. Credit: Bereginya.
We previously worked with Bereginya, The Mariupol Women’s Association, to provide holistic support to Ukrainian refugees in Poland through a range of activities aimed at helping women rebuild their lives.
As refugees from Ukraine themselves, the mother and daughter team Myrna and Kateryna who led Bereginya shared the pain of the women they served, giving them a unique and powerful insight into supporting their needs. Kateryna shared how the survivors that were evacuated from Mariupol spent weeks in shelters and cellars without access to water, heating or food and are severely traumatized from their experience. Some of the women have been raped and subjected to sexual violence.
Through our partnership, Bereginya provided:
Psychosocial support through both group and individual sessions.
Art therapy sessions aimed at increasing self-confidence, improving psycho-emotional regulation, and developing communication and social skills.
Individual consultation sessions to help refugees settle into life in Poland, offering support in areas such as tax guidance and social accommodation.
Legal counsel to help women navigate their new environment.
Vocational training, including a manicure course, and comprehensive support on employment and running a business in Poland.
The Role of Art Therapy
One of the key ways Bereginya supported Ukrainian women and children in Poland was through art therapy. These sessions played a vital role in the healing process, offering a creative outlet for women and children who had endured immense trauma.
Read our blog to learn more about the various art therapy activities facilited by Bereginya for women and children who fled the war in Ukraine.
Although our grant with Bereginya ended in 2024, the impact of our partnership continues to be felt by the women and children who benefited from these programs and we continue to collaborate with Bereginya on advocacy and communications activities.
Human Doc
We previously partnered with Human Doc, an organization providing holistic support to Ukrainian refugees in Poland. Through this partnership, we supported women and girls who were displaced by the conflict, offering vital services to help them rebuild their lives.
Human Doc's work included the provision of safe and secure accommodation for women and girl refugees, along with ongoing support to help them find long-term housing solutions. In addition to providing a secure environment, they offered comprehensive psychological support and trauma healing through both group and individual counselling sessions, helping refugees begin their emotional recovery.
Legal support was also a critical part of their services, ensuring women had the necessary resources and guidance to navigate the complexities of their new environment. Refugees were also provided with essential items such as food, hygiene products, clothing, and medicine to meet their immediate needs.
To support long-term integration, Human Doc offered Polish and English language courses, as well as vocational skills training in areas such as manicure and sewing. Art therapy sessions were also conducted, providing women and children with a creative outlet for healing.
While our partnership with Human Doc has concluded, we remain deeply grateful for their dedication and the transformative impact they have had on countless women and families.
Dom4824
We supported women who had been internally displaced to regain their financial independence, alongside the local women’s rights organization Dom4824. We set up a co-working beauty salon in Ivano-Frankivsk, where several women offered beauty and cosmetic treatments. The space also provided occupational therapy and practical training for other internally displaced women to learn the skills they needed to start their own businesses.
Support Our Mission:
Help us provide critical support for Ukrainian women.
