The annual partnership will enable the Masha Fund to expand the “Brave” (“Smilyva”) self-defense program to multiple regions of Ukraine and provide online and offline safety training to schoolgirls, schoolboys, psychologists, and physical education teachers through two-day self-defense training seminars. Additionally, the “Unbreakable Mom” initiative will aid hundreds of women and children affected by the war in returning to normal lives.
“Masha Fund” is constantly expanding its assistance program to help more women and children affected by the war. Initially, the “Unbreakable Mom” project brought about changes one after another, but now we are running 3-4 streams of the program in parallel. It means we can help even more women and children simultaneously. The “Brave” (“Smilyva”) project, which was held only in Kyiv a year ago, now teaches teenage girls mental and physical self-defense in seven regions of Ukraine. This expansion is all thanks to the support of our partners. We are pleased to announce that we have begun working with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
– The partnership between UNICEF and the Masha Fund is highly significant, as it aligns with UNICEF’s core value of protecting children’s rights. It is exactly what we take care of in our projects, – says Tetyana Muratkina, the director of the Masha Fund. – It has been proven that the psychological well-being of parents directly affects their children. Therefore, when Ukrainian women participating in the “Unbreakable Mom” program regain their desire to smile, dream, and live, their families thrive too. The program also includes psychologists working with the children of these mothers, allowing them to be just children again. With each change brought by “Unbreakable Mom”, more and more Ukrainian families can withstand the daily stress and challenges of living through a full-scale war. Our “Brave” project not only teaches teenage girls to resist various types of violence, but it also aids in social integration, especially for those who have experienced traumatic events or have been forced to leave their homes and move to other regions. The program helps reduce feelings of isolation and supports girls in society.
The “Masha Fund” can benefit greatly from UNICEF’s extensive experience in supporting families to improve the lives of more Ukrainian families. Working together, we can spread awareness about the significance of mental health and gradually shift the existing public narrative on this issue.
