February 13, 2026
News
Ukrainian childhood during the war means daily stress, danger, relocation, and loss of family and friends. That is why Caritas Czech Republic has joined efforts to support mental well-being in school communities in western Ukraine. In cooperation with the All-Ukrainian Mental Health Programme ‘How Are You?’, local and regional authorities, we have created the first school psychological relief room in Transcarpathia. This experience can be spread to other schools in the region.
Recovery point for children and teachers
After setting up the Children's Mental Health Centre in Mukachevo, our team joined a pilot project to create relief rooms in schools around Transcarpathia. The first one was Lyceum No. 12 in Uzhhorod, the biggest school in the regional centre. A third of the lyceum's 900+ students come from socially vulnerable families in need of support. These are children from internally displaced families, children whose parents serve in the military, and children of deceased military personnel.
Our team renovated and equipped one of the lyceum's classrooms, transforming it into a multifunctional, inclusive space. It will serve as a recovery point for students, parents, and teachers. It is bright and cosy, with musical instruments, various sensory and light panels, books, and toys.
We wanted to create a multifunctional space where children and teachers could relax and recover from air raid sirens and stress. It will also host various classes for children and parents with the participation of psychologists,
said Nataly Matskova, country director at Caritas Czech Republic in Ukraine.
According to project manager Yana Markiv, the room has several areas, allowing both children and adults to relieve stress and tension in ways that suit them best. Namely:
- music zone - with an electronic box, synthesiser, drum kit, and glockenspiel;
- relaxation area - with a hammock, soft furniture, a heavy blanket, a 3D mirror with an infinity effect, and a bubble wall;
- art area - with a drawing board, light panel, art supplies, LEGO, and puzzles.
Prevention for mental well-being
Pavlo is in sixth grade at secondary school. His father is currently at war. Every day, Pavlo eagerly awaits his father's call and has even given up his favourite treats until his father returns from the front. As soon as the boy entered the psychological relief room, he was most delighted by the musical instruments.
I really liked the drums! The room is wonderful, perfect. Such rooms are needed throughout the country. Many children suffer from bullying and stress and need support,
Pavlo shared.
According to the lyceum's director, Yaryna Kharina, the war is having a profound impact on all Ukrainian children.
“90% of fifth-grade students, when completing an assignment on the topic 'My Dreams,' wrote that their only dream was an end to the war. Children are constantly in a state of anxiety, and it is very good that we now have a room where both students and teachers can renew their strength and find the support they need," said the director of the lyceum.
Taisiia Symochko, coordinator of the All-Ukrainian mental health programme ‘How are You?’ in the Transcarpathian region, is very satisfied with the results of the cooperation with Caritas Czech Republic. She hopes to see the ‘pilot’ project expanded.
Such psychological relief rooms are part of a systematic approach within the framework of the All-Ukrainian Mental Health Programme. After all, children spend a significant part of their lives at school and are very sensitive to what is happening in Ukraine right now. Many experience stress and anxiety. This room is a kind of prevention of mental disorders. Psychoeducational activities are planned here to support the mental well-being of the school community,
explained Taisiia.
During the opening of the room, Yurii Guzinets, deputy head of the Transcarpathian Regional Military Administration, expressed his hope that the list of schools participating in the pilot project would be expanded.
Caritas Czech Republic set up the psychological relief room as part of a humanitarian aid project for the affected population of Ukraine, implemented with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.
Our activities in Ukraine
Last year, we mainly focused on the health sector. Our team helped establish a network of mental health centres. We set up four mental health centres for children and adults in Transcarpathia, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Dnipropetrovsk regions. In addition, we helped renovate premises for the Resilience Centre in Truskavets, Lviv Oblast, and created the first psychological recovery room in Uzhhorod, Transcarpathia.
We improved rehabilitation care in six hospitals near the front line in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Our team equipped the hospitals with high-tech equipment, including virtual reality, which facilitates people’s return to everyday life.
Moreover, we provide additional lessons to children who have missed out on school due to the war. In winter, we insulate houses, supply solid fuel and winter kits to families living near the front line, where infrastructure is damaged.
We also support people in Ukraine through the fundraising campaign Caritas for Ukraine. Thank you for helping with us!
