This “train-the trainer” course will enhance practical knowledge, build skills and competences of the professionals and practitioners who provide psychological and social support services to the citizens who suffered because of the Russian invasion in Ukraine.

Dmitri Terepik, programme’s director, explains that nowadays such experts are in high demand in Ukraine.

“We received a request from our Ukrainian partners to organize a training course for psychologists and social workers who help such vulnerable groups as children and internally displaced persons. And our response was not long in coming”, Dmitri Teperik says.

Kaisa Üprus-Tali, head of the Tallinn Social Welfare and Health Care Department, who joined the programme, believes that sometimes the professionals who work with vulnerable groups may need psychological help themselves as well.

“Participants will not only be able to help the displaced persons but also learn how to help themselves and prevent burnouts at work”, Kaisa Üprus-Tali adds.

The “Resilient Ukraine” team has already analysed the specific needs of the participants from the Transcarpathia region of Ukraine, to plan and conduct an intensive training by Estonian and Ukrainian specialists.

The training course is held in co-operation with the Transcarpathian Institute of Postgraduate Pedagogical Education. In the future, the “Resilient Ukraine” team plans to organise similar training programmes in other regions in Ukraine; in particular, the west and south of the country. 

Estonian-Ukrainian expert team has launched a course on practical aspects of crisis psychology and social help in the times of crisis.