Ukraine
Child Protection and Mental Health in the Digital Space
Ukrainian children are bearing the heavy burden of the war. To escape stress, anxiety, and isolation, many of them turn to the internet. There, they are confronted with violent war-related content, and many also experience various forms of online abuse. By developing a specialized online module for psychosocial support, training teachers and psychologists, and launching a nationwide awareness campaign, we are strengthening their mental health and child protection in the digital space.
Background
The war in Ukraine is taking a heavy toll on children and adolescents. Constant airstrikes, destruction, and displacement have deeply shaken their sense of security and emotional well-being. Many schools are permanently closed, and families are fleeing their homes. Children and adolescents are barely able to meet with friends or engage in leisure activities.
Many of them turn to the internet to cope with their fear and isolation. In the digital space, however, they face additional dangers. Violent content, graphic war scenes, and various forms of online abuse are widespread.
The psychological strain leads to anxiety, long-term trauma, and developmental issues in many children and adolescents, thereby jeopardizing their future.
That is why we are committed to protecting Ukrainian children and adolescents in the digital space and strengthening their mental health.
Our work begins exactly where children and adolescents go to escape their traumatic daily lives. Together with experts, we are developing a special online module for psychosocial support based on “Minecraft Education,” a learning platform that is particularly popular among children aged 11–14. Through creative building tasks and interactive missions, children learn to express their feelings and build their own resilience. The digital module also enables them to develop a stronger sense of security.
Exercises such as designing their own “safe house” help them cope with fears and strengthen social bonds through collaborative play. To ensure the module’s long-term impact, we are training 500 teachers and school psychologists from the regions most affected by the war: Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, Mykolaiv, and Odessa. In five online sessions, they receive practical guidance and methodological tools to implement the module independently.
A total of 2,500 children, equally divided between girls and boys, benefit from the project. We empower them to recognize and express their emotions, help them develop greater self-confidence in navigating digital spaces, and actively shape their own online safety.
Through an accompanying, nationwide online campaign, we are also raising public awareness of digital risks and the psychosocial well-being of children and adolescents, thereby sustainably strengthening the protection of children in the digital space.
Häufig gefragt
What does ChildFund Germany stand for, and what is the goal of its work?
Our goal is to bring about lasting improvements in the future prospects of children in need, their families, and their entire communities. Through our commitment to these children and families, we aim to make a positive difference and create lasting improvements, always guided by the principle of helping people help themselves. This enables them to exercise their rights, overcome poverty and dependency, and lead independent and self-determined lives.
How can I be sure that my donation actually reaches its destination?
The efficient use of the donations entrusted to us is our top priority. To ensure that our aid is used in a highly targeted manner, we rely on close collaboration with local partner organizations in all the countries where we operate, so that our assistance meets the specific needs on the ground. Furthermore, all our support is guided by the principle of helping people help themselves. This ensures that the people in our projects benefit from long-term and lasting changes and, in the long run, no longer depend on aid but can live independently and self-determinedly. Our transparent and responsible handling of donations is also confirmed by the DZI Donation Seal, which we have been awarded continuously since 1995 by the German Central Institute for Social Issues.
How does ChildFund Germany work?
Our work is made possible by three sources of funding: sponsorships, other donations, and public funds. Our projects funded by sponsorships are designed for the long term. They are characterized by particularly close collaboration between our partner organizations in the respective project country and the local communities.
The donation-based and publicly funded projects have a shorter duration. Due to the limited timeframe, these projects require more intensive planning and support on our part.
In all projects, ChildFund plays two specific roles: First, raising funds so that the project work can be implemented at all. And second, bringing together and building bridges between those who provide money and expertise and those who lack these resources. The goal is to maximize mutual benefit from the collaboration and to advance our projects in the most effective way possible.
What kinds of projects does ChildFund Germany carry out?
Our projects, which are funded through sponsorships, are designed for the long term. They are characterized by particularly close collaboration between our partner organizations in the respective project country and the local communities.
The donation-based and publicly funded projects have a shorter duration. Due to the limited timeframe, these projects require more intensive planning and support on our part.
What regions and issues does ChildFund Germany focus on?
We operate in various countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. Our work focuses primarily on education, nutrition, livelihood support, and child protection, as well as humanitarian aid in emergency situations. Issues such as health and climate protection are also central to many of our projects.
How can I support ChildFund Germany?
There are many different ways to support our work. From a one-time donation to a regular donation as a “Future Donor” to becoming a sponsor, you are free to choose the form of support that best suits you. Long-term and particularly sustainable support can also take the form of a foundation or a bequest. We also offer a range of customized support options for businesses and schools.