How we help communities recover
When people’s lives are marked by war and crisis, education can be a safe space for support and recovery. But for it to truly fulfill this role, it needs to adopt a trauma-informed approach—one that acknowledges everyone’s experiences and helps rebuild trust and community strength.
In 2024–2025, the Ukrainian Network for Adult Education and Innovation Development, together with partners from EU countries, implemented the international project COPE – Preparing Non-formal Education in Europe for Traumatized Learners with the support of the Erasmus+ program. Within its framework, free resources for educators were created: an interactive online course, a practical guide, a workbook, and visual materials that help work with people who have experienced trauma.
Although the international phase of COPE has ended, its results continue to live on in Ukraine. The NGO “Alliance for Civil Rights” is launching a new project “Trauma-Informed Community: Local Solutions for Psychosocial Resilience” , which aims to translate and adapt COPE materials for the Ukrainian context. In this process, the Network acts as a partner , providing expertise and support in implementing trauma-informed approaches in communities.
In 2026, the project will include participants from Lviv and Donetsk/Dnipropetrovsk regions. The application form will be published soon.
In this way, we gradually create conditions for the restoration of communities – through knowledge, understanding, and mutual support.
The project is being implemented with funding from the Ukrainian NGO Fund and with the support of Christian Aid and CAFOD.
