The Sane Ukraine project trains trauma educators across Ukraine
The story so far
Like many of us I felt powerless watching the invasion of Ukraine, so I decided to do what I could. My mother and father-in-law and several psychologist colleagues become refugees, and many friends in Ukraine experienced attacks directly.
Rather than despair however, I teamed up with Ukrainian and international friends, and we created Sane Ukraine. We have been very successful and have much to do yet.
With a Polish friend, we delivered urgently-needed medical supplies to a children’s hospital in Lviv and then successfully delivered training trauma to 60 people. With local experts, I taught trauma educators/ first aiders to reduce the suffering of war. A local management team now coordinates the work ongoing and we raised funds to give trainers a modest salary .
“We can’t do everything, and of course Ukraine needs more too, but these trainers are making a real difference to thousands of people, reducing the suffering of war”.
– Mark Walsh, Sane Ukraine Founder (with many years experience of training people in various areas of conflict)
What will we do next?
What we do?
- We have trained 60 Ukrainian psychological resilience and trauma educators in Lviv, Ukraine who now work throughout the country
- We now employ two managers and 20 trainers, who work to teach people across Ukraine and with refugees abroad, to reduce some of the suffering of war
- We offer ongoing supervision, support and mentoring to the trainers.
- Trauma first aid
- Practical psychological resilience tools
- Trauma education to people of all kinds (we work with refugees, volunteers, children, military and more)
- Psychological health under extreme conditions
- Lasting Resilience
- Clear decision making
- Creative thinking under pressure
- Compassionate action and, when appropriate dialogue
Are you also online?
Yes? We also give free daily online training and support for Ukrainians around the world though Sane Ukraine online. Run entirely by expert volunteers from Ukraine and twelve other countries this will continue until Ukraine is victorious and beyond if needed. Sane Ukraine Online
Watch this space for regular updates!
Assisted by a Polish volunteer, Piotr, we have delivered practical supplies (as requested by locals) to refugees in Lviv. These were the most useful medical and humanitarian supplies that we were able to source.
“In a world where very few are thinking straight in these high winds of disaster and trauma, Mark and the Sane Ukraine project are actually walking the talk by going to Ukraine to help – that’s as healing as it gets.”
– Ruby Wax
Funding Targets
Reaching the current $150,000 target will enable us to pay the training and management team for two more months, and will pay for the next training session in May
$300,000 will pay fifty trainers for half a year to continue the good work after the May training.
$600,000 will fund the project for the rest of the year.
A vision
We are making Lviv (as a major refugee centre) the most trauma aware city on the planet, and Ukraine the world’s most trauma aware country. This will dramatically reduce at least some of the suffering of war.
Ongoing benefit?
The trainers we employ are spreading vital knowledge. They will be more effective than foreign aid workers in this capacity, and help will many Ukrainians suffer less, and pass on less trauma to future generations.
Are you working with Ukrainians?
Yes. The training team includes four local therapists/psychologists who have welcomed the training as they are short-staffed. They are delighted in fact that we have already effectively doubled their capacity. They also advise on local cultural and practical matters.
We are also supported by international Ukrainian volunteers, local advisors and interpreters. A mix of some of the best people working there already, and people we know well and trust deeply.
Our Lead Trainers
Our Project Managers
Quotes from our trainers
Now I know how do not get confused, keep calm and be the safe place. I can stabilise his mother, who then stabilizes the child. I am empowered by the knowledge and experience gained in the project Sane Ukraine - Trauma education and resilience project !"
Ukrainians feel guilty about many things. But thanks to the training I know that the opposite of stress is play, not the relaxation. And I am are trying to bring play back to our lives. During war we struggle to understand what is going on with our body and psycho. I am happy to have some answers, to validate their emotions and states. And as well introduce to the ways out of trauma. To give them tools how to help themselves and people around."
For more information
Press Release
March 2022
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