Development in time of war: how Safe Place helps children in Ukraine find their vocation - Stories of the Alliance for Public Health

Development in time of war

how Safe Place helps children in Ukraine find their vocation

The Lviv Safe Place Information Hub has become not only a favorite vacation spot for children but also a great opportunity to gain new knowledge and skills while under protection. For more than six months now, it has been operating in a boot camp format, focusing on future professions, namely, general development and preparation for adulthood.

“The war has changed their (children’s – author’s note) lives a lot, they had to leave their hometown, some parents couldn’t leave and some died, but they are still children and they have the same interests as all ordinary children of this age: anime, illustration, k-pop. Each of them has their own tragic story behind them, but no matter what, they sincerely believe that they will return home,” – says Anna Horkun, Shelter Program Manager, Alliance for Public Health. “We are currently working with children from the occupied territory of the Melitopol community. And the children say that their main achievement, their “superpower” is that they are still alive! They often tell us how lucky they are to have managed to leave Melitopol – and believe me, this is not childish talk, they speak like adults, conscious people. Every time I am amazed to tears – the children realize that they might not have lived to see their age.”

However, each race has one more activity that is extremely important in wartime: gaining knowledge on survival. The Lviv State University of Life Safety assists in this regard. All children have the opportunity to take first aid training lessons: how to help a person who has fainted, and how to make braces and turnstiles from improvised means.

“In the summer of 2023, to distract children from the horrors of war and allow them to relax, we launched the Safe Camp entertainment project for children living in the frontline areas of Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions (only 15 km from the front line). A rich cultural and entertainment program was developed for them, which included many educational excursions, exciting quests, and visits to modern youth spaces where children could see the process of soap making with their own eyes, conduct chemical experiments, and create unique things with their own hands,” – says Victoria Bobrynok, director of the Safe Place shelter, Lviv.

In the camp of future professions, children from the frontline areas have a real opportunity to try themselves in various fields. Beforehand, at home, in a remote format, they take a career guidance test to determine what the child can do and what professions they may be interested in. Among them is programming, which provides an opportunity to learn the basics and meet professionals in the field. One IT training session lasts 7 days. During this time, teenagers, aged 13-17, learn the basics and have the opportunity to visit educational institutions and companies working in this field. Currently, Lviv is home to the largest number of educational institutions and IT companies, so children receive not only theoretical knowledge but also see with their own eyes how IT professionals spend their working days and ask them all the questions that are important to them.

The educational process is quite structured and includes mastering technical skills in the relevant IT industry (hard skills) and improving communication and leadership skills (soft skills), which help to establish effective teamwork. Children can take part in workshops, and three-hour IT trainings. During the first sessions, they will learn how to create Anime, working in professional paid programs. Such activities will be held twice a month (between camps) and each time will have a new topic. At the end of the course, the children present their work and tell the audience and their parents, who watch the performance online, what they have learned and their strengths.

“So far, 135 children have completed the Camp of Future Professions. I remember when we were taking a UX/UI design course, where we learned how to make our website, one girl made a website with descriptions of all the museums in Melitopol so that when the city is de-occupied, people from all over the world who will go there (she is sure of it) will know which museum to visit and what to see there. The IT direction has quickly become one of the key areas of our Camp, and we are extremely happy about it,” – shares Anna Horkun, Shelter Program Manager, Alliance for Public Health.

During the training, the psychologist draws the children’s attention to the fact that each of them has strengths that they should know and be able to use. It also happens that in the process, the child realizes that he or she wants to develop in another field. This is also very good because now they will be able to make a clearer choice of their future profession and will be able to explain their decision to their parents. In addition, together with partner organizations, we plan to implement an initiative for children who have already completed the Future Profession Camp by purchasing a 6-month training program at one of the well-known IT schools. Participants will be able to start online training at any time convenient for them and choose the course that interests them most. The certificate will give them priority when applying to universities and will be a good addition to a motivation letter when applying for a job.

But that’s not all! Another feature that distinguishes the Safe Place Hub from other similar institutions is the opportunity to attend cultural and educational events. With the assistance of the Alliance and friendly organizations, 20 children who studied at the camp of future professions will go to the Carpathians this summer. For a week, they will stay in a recreation center and learn how to take photos and process them in professional programs. Under the guidance of a professional trainer, the camp participants will work with ethnic style and create a portfolio, and in their free time will enjoy the picturesque views of our native mountains.

The Safe Place Hub in Lviv not only provides children with temporary shelter but also opens up new horizons and opportunities for development. Through educational programs, psychological support, and cultural and educational activities, it is a place where they can safely dream, learn, and realize their ambitions, despite all the difficulties they have faced. The Hub has become a real point of support for young Ukrainians, helping them to take the first steps towards a bright and successful future.

The Safe Place was launched by the Alliance for Public Health in cooperation with their British colleagues Christian Aid and DEC. The Deed4kids foundation and the Ampli educational accelerator joined the creation and operation of the Creative IT Professions for children. In addition, local authorities, Lviv universities, educational and entertainment centers are regular partners.