The Safe Space Programme at Mandryk Kindergarten

Report on the implementation of the “Safe Space” psychosocial support programme at Mandryk Kindergarten (April–August 2025)

The programme was implemented with the support of Restart Foundation in cooperation with the Ukrainian NGO “Words Help” and the NaUKMA Mental Health Centre. This page summarises the context, activities, and impact of the programme delivered in Kyiv during a period of intense shelling. The full report is available below.

Download the full report (PDF)

Participants: 18 children, 35 parents, 2 teachers, 1 director, 2 interns
Duration: 12 weeks of weekly therapeutic group work
War context: programme delivered during massive weekly missile & drone attacks on Kyiv
Referrals: 3 families + 1 educator referred for specialised psychological support

Context: implementing support during active war

From April to August 2025, Kyiv experienced repeated combined missile and drone attacks. In May alone, 3,973 drones were launched; in June — 5,000. Residential buildings were destroyed, civilians were killed, and families spent nights in shelters or corridors. Children arrived at kindergarten after sleepless nights, frightened by explosions and sirens.

In this environment of chronic danger, anxiety, and parental exhaustion, the Safe Space programme aimed to restore stability, emotional regulation, and trust within the child–adult community.

Programme structure

Safe Space is a comprehensive psychosocial model developed by the NaUKMA Mental Health Centre. At Mandryk kindergarten, the programme operated on three levels: children, parents, and teachers, with supervision and intern training as key components.

Children: 3 therapeutic groups (6 children each), weekly sessions combining play, creative work, emotional literacy, movement, and structured rituals.
Parents: psychoeducational and supportive meetings addressing anxiety, war conversations, sleep disturbances, conflict, and emotional fatigue.
Teachers: supervision sessions, emotional stabilisation, attachment-based approaches, and training on managing challenging behaviour.
Interns: 12-session practical training with supervision, case discussions, and professional development.

Reach

Beneficiaries Number
Children 18
Parents 35
Teachers 2
Director 1
Interns 2

Impact & observations

Children: half of the group showed improvement in emotional regulation; calmer transitions, better peer interaction, increased ability to name emotions.
Parents: reported warmer communication, improved sleep in children, reduced conflict, greater awareness of how to talk about war honestly and age-appropriately.
Teachers: increased confidence, reduced countertransference aggression, improved understanding of trauma-informed approaches.
Institution: programme implemented for the third time; management emphasised its critical value during wartime.

“Safe Space provides not just sessions, but a holistic environment where children feel protected and adults learn how to support them in times of war.”

Conclusions

Despite constant shelling and chronic stress, the Safe Space programme demonstrated positive change in children’s interpersonal behaviour, adult awareness, and institutional resilience. While results were mixed due to extreme external conditions, the model proved effective as a comprehensive system of psychosocial support.

Download the full report (PDF)