Care and support: Pivdenny partners with Kinder Velt children’s psychological support centre

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Ukrainian children have been experiencing traumatic events daily: the loss of loved ones, shelling, forced changes of environment. Without timely psychological support and a stable environment, the consequences of these traumas can last for years and threaten mental health.

Pivdenny Bank has been supporting Ukrainian children for several years – through educational grants, the development of sports and the creation of a safe environment. Now another important focus has been added to these initiatives – psychological recovery.

We have become a partner of the charitable centre Kinder Velt, which provides free assistance to children through art therapy, fairy-tale therapy and body-oriented therapy. One of the key tools is the “Rafa the Giraffe” method – the Ukrainian version of the Israeli Hibuki practice, where a soft toy becomes a symbol of warmth, trust and safety for a child.

The centre operates in five cities of Ukraine – Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, Kropyvnytskyi and Mykolaiv. Since its establishment, Kinder Velt has helped more than 7,000 children and provided consultations to over 3,000 families.  Thanks to the Bank’s support, it has been possible to strengthen the work of the busiest centre in Kharkiv – a city in particular need of assistance due to constant shelling.

For Pivdenny, cooperation with Kinder Velt is another step in a long-term programme to support children. Future plans include expanding cooperation with similar initiatives so that as many Ukrainian children as possible can once again feel like children – in safety, care and trust.