Supporting Educators’ Resilience: TUESWU and AFT Finalize Joint Project

The Ukrainian-American project “The Impact of Trauma and How It Affects Behavior and Learning: What Teachers Should Know”, jointly implemented by the Trade Union of Education and Science Workers of Ukraine and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), has been successfully completed.

By early December 2025, all ten groups of educators from different regions of Ukraine had completed the training program.

At the closing seminar, Serhii Romaniuk, Vice-President of the Trade Union, stressed that in the context of war, psycho-emotional support for educators is not merely relevant but urgently required by the realities people face. Teachers who work with children every day are themselves living under conditions of prolonged stress, emotional exhaustion and increased responsibility.

“Providing practical tools for educators’ recovery is therefore both our responsibility and a key task today,” Romaniuk emphasized. He noted that such seminars help teachers maintain inner balance, which in turn positively affects the atmosphere in educational institutions and the overall quality of the learning process.

According to Serhii Romaniuk, more than 220 educators participated in the project, completing 120 hours of in-person practical training under the guidance of psychologist and psychotherapist Olha Denysova, a specialist with more than 30 years of professional experience. Her approach, combining a deep understanding of trauma with practical support methods, enabled participants not only to gain knowledge but also to work through their own experiences and develop individual recovery strategies.

Summing up the project, psychotherapist Olha Denysova noted that participants repeatedly emphasized the importance of understanding their own reactions to traumatic events and having practical tools to support children and colleagues during wartime. Educators were highly engaged, asked thoughtful and substantive questions, and sought to strengthen their own internal resources in order to remain resilient under sustained emotional pressure. The discussions often focused on complex issues requiring balanced and well-considered responses rather than standard solutions.

A key feature of the project was its interactive format. The main source of information for the project was the Ukraine Children’s Action Project (UCAP) materials. Participants were also introduced to a range of practical tools, including fairy tale therapy, exercises using buttons, associative tests, as well as an extensive list of recommended literature. During webinars, educators actively communicated, shared experiences and practiced peer support skills, creating a space of trust and professional solidarity.

According to participants’ feedback, particular interest was sparked by practical advice and recommendations, associative exercises and materials for parent meetings – tools that can be applied both in work with children and with adults. This motivation and openness helped foster a supportive professional community that continues to cooperate beyond the project.

Participants emphasized that the training sessions were highly practical and especially important in the context of war. The new knowledge helped them better structure their own stress responses, understand children’s behavior in crisis situations, and adopt effective approaches to supporting colleagues. At the same time, many noted the importance of caring for themselves first – managing their own resources in order to support others sustainably, without attempting to “save the whole world” at once. Some educators have already introduced these practices within their institutions, sharing the acquired skills and strengthening their professional communities.

The project “The Impact of Trauma and How It Affects Behavior and Learning: What Teachers Should Know” has demonstrated that even in the extremely difficult circumstances of war, Ukrainian education retains the capacity for development, mutual support and resilience – providing stability for those who continue to sustain education and human values every day.

The Trade Union remains committed to supporting educators and creating conditions for such programs to strengthen their resilience and well-being. Participants have underlined that the project was genuinely useful in their daily work and expressed their sincere gratitude to the partners for this vital support.

International Department