Since 2024, the Karazin University Alumni, Faculty and Friends Association has been implementing the international project “Implementation of a Pilot Trauma-Informed Approach to Mental Health, Psychosocial Support, and Mediation” with the support of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

The project is aimed at introducing a modern trauma-informed approach to working with children, young people, families, educational communities, and individuals affected by the war. The initiative seeks to strengthen systems of psychological support, create safe environments for overcoming the consequences of traumatic experiences, and promote mediation practices and nonviolent communication in the context of the full-scale war.

Within the framework of the project, the Association’s team, together with psychologists, mediators, educators, researchers, and partner organizations, conducts educational, practical, and awareness-raising activities focused on developing competencies in mental health, psychosocial support, and mediation. Particular attention is given to professional capacity building, fostering interdisciplinary cooperation, and creating practical support mechanisms for people who have experienced war-related trauma.

The project also contributes to the development of a professional community in the field of mental health and supports the establishment of sustainable approaches to strengthening educational institutions and local communities in Kharkiv and the Kharkiv region.

The initiative has been ongoing for more than two years and has become an important example of cooperation between civil society organizations, the university community, and international partners in advancing mental health, psychosocial support, and social resilience during wartime.