Supporting the Team’s Mental Health: A Series of Activities in Dnipro

In February–March 2026, a series of activities aimed at supporting mental health, preventing burnout, and restoring the team’s internal resources was organized for the regional teams of the “Public Resources and Initiatives” Charity Foundation working in the Dnipropetrovsk region.

These activities are implemented within the project “Strengthening the Institutional Capacity of the Public Resources and Initiatives Charity Foundation,” carried out by the Foundation with technical support from UN Women in Ukraine and funding from the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF). WPHF is a flexible and rapid financing mechanism that supports high-quality initiatives aimed at strengthening the capacity of local women in conflict prevention, crisis and emergency response, and in leveraging key opportunities for peacebuilding.

Working in the humanitarian sector during wartime involves constant emotional pressure, a high level of responsibility, and the need to respond quickly to crisis situations. Therefore, supporting the mental health of team members is an essential component of organizational resilience.

Throughout March, several informal educational and recreational activities were organized for the team, combining communication, reflection on professional experience, and the opportunity to slow down for a moment.

Among them was a thematic educational meeting dedicated to the culture of tea practices, an informal reflection meeting on experiences of working in the humanitarian sector, and an upcoming informal cheese-making workshop.

Another part of the series was a team recreational activity — horseback riding — which allowed participants to change the environment, spend time together outside the work context, and restore their energy.

Foundation volunteer Yulia Lysenko shared her impressions: “Sometimes it is very important simply to change the environment and take a breath. Such meetings give us the opportunity to step away from daily worries and concerns, spend time with the team, and restore our strength.”

These meetings help reduce emotional tension, strengthen trust within the team, and create space for mutual support. The Foundation believes that caring for the mental health of those who help others every day is a crucial condition for the long-term effectiveness of humanitarian work.

______________________

The project “Strengthening the Institutional Capacity of the Public Resources and Initiatives Charity Foundation” is produced by  the Public Resources and Initiatives Charity Foundation, with technical support of UN Women Ukraine and and financial support from the The United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF), a flexible and rapid financing mechanism that supports quality interventions aimed at strengthening the capacity of local women in conflict prevention, crisis and emergency response, and leveraging key peacebuilding opportunities.

This publication was produced with the financial support of the United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF), but the views and content expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the official views or endorsement of the United Nations.