The war has left deep psychological and social consequences: trauma, loss of loved ones, isolation, and addiction. These make individuals more vulnerable to organized crime, human trafficking, and destructive behaviors. In Ukraine, there is a lack of accessible, non-discriminatory environments where people can recover and feel supported by their community.
The “Spaces for recovery and reintegration” project aims to fill this gap. Together with communities, we are creating a model of inclusive locations that will operate on the basic level of “psychosocial support” — accessible to everyone. In these spaces:
- Early psychological and social support is provided for veterans, internally displaced persons (IDPs), youth, and families.
- Individual and group methods, cultural practices, and psychoeducational tools are used to develop stress resilience.
- Local natural and cultural resources are integrated (restoring traditions, working with the landscape, artistic programs).
- “Healing spaces” are created to facilitate self-restoration, prevent retraumatization, and reduce the risks of criminalization.
In August 2025, we held a strategic session with 18 participants, including government representatives, psychologists, architects, artists, and community leaders. Together, we identified key principles, target groups, and formats for the spaces. The result was the development of a basic concept that can be adapted to different regions of Ukraine.
Expected Outcomes:
- A replicable model of “Recovery spaces” as a community tool for addressing the consequences of war.
- Creation of the first network of stakeholders for pilot launches.
- Development of recommendations for donors and the state on scaling the model.
- Increased psychosocial resilience of communities, reduced risk of veterans and youth being recruited into criminal networks.
Such spaces will become an essential part of post-war reconstruction. They not only help individuals overcome trauma but also restore social fabric, rebuilding trust between people and communities.