A new fundraiser for psychological aid to Ukrainian children was announced in connection with the second annual Crimean Platform Parliamentary Summit. It will be hosted by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Markéta Pekarová Adamová, in Prague on Tuesday, October 24. The fundraiser is held under the banner of the Committee of Good Will – Olga Havlova Foundation (VDV) and aims to raise funds for psychological assistance to children from Ukraine residing in the territory of the Czech Republic and to support Ukrainian children who were illegally detained in the territory of the Russian Federation, after their returning back to the homeland.
The International Crimean Platform was established in the summer of 2021 at the initiative of President Volodymyr Zelensky and aims to bring together and coordinate all existing national and international efforts to de-occupy the Crimean peninsula. The second edition of the summit is hosted in Prague by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, Markéta Pekarová Adamová. More than 50 parliamentary delegations from around the world confirmed their participation. “The horrors of any war always strike the most vulnerable first. In Ukraine today, it is primarily children who are mercilessly murdered and kidnapped from their homes by the Russian occupiers.
Psychological help for children who have gone through traumatic experiences has therefore long been among the top priorities of the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenská. It was she who inspired me to highlight this topic at the Crimean Platform parliamentary summit in Prague with the aim of alleviating the suffering of the innocent victims of the barbaric Russian aggression taking place near our borders,” says the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Markéta Pekarová Adamová.
The result of the collection, which is held under the auspices of the Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament Ruslan Stefanchuk and the Office of the President of Ukraine, will be announced on the eve of the summit at Prague Castle in the presence of President Petr Pavl.
The Committee of Good Will – The Olga Havel Foundation will follow up on its previous activities with the collection, when in the years 2022-2023 it supported 45 non-profit organizations throughout the Czech Republic in providing professional assistance to refugees from Ukraine, with a strong emphasis on professional psychological assistance. Thanks to the cooperation with the AMIGA organization, individual psychological support has so far been provided to 1,150 clients and group activities have taken place for more than 3,700 needy children. “Psychological problems are one of the most serious consequences of the war in Ukraine. The mental state of Ukrainians – and especially their children – is worsened by the seeming infinity of ruthless Russian aggression, heavy human and immaterial losses,” adds Monika Granja, director of VDV, adding: “Thanks to the proceeds from the collection, we will be able to continue to finance the help needed to come to terms with the war traumas and their consequences in the form of post-traumatic stress disorders, anxiety disorders, depression or sleep disorders.”
Help for Ukrainian children rescued from unauthorized detention on the territory of the Russian Federation after their return consists mainly of financial support and sensitive psychological care of local experts. You can donate to the collection using the online form here.
One of the many stories of help
“We were approached by the mother of a ten-year-old boy from Kharkiv. They moved to the Czech Republic at the beginning of the war, and the mother was struggling with the fact that the boy is aggressive, short-tempered, but also tearful, it is difficult to get along with him, and communication is completely different from what it was at home. After several interviews with the boy, the psychologist discovered that he was experiencing great fears as a result of moving, the war, but also an innate unstable nervous system. She used art therapy to reduce stress, practiced various relaxation methods. The psychologist also had a meeting with the mother, where she suggested some changes in the daily routine and other ways of supporting the son’s healthy nervous system. The boy left after ten meetings calmed down and relieved of his worries. The relationship between mother and son has also improved.”