A new psychosocial support center named ПОРАДА has been launched in Dobroslav, Odesa region. This initiative marks a significant step within the All-Ukrainian mental health program ‘How are you?’ initiated by First Lady Olena Zelenska.

The center is designed to assist women, girls, and families who find themselves in challenging life situations.

ПОРАДА stands for: Space of Support, Equality, Active Actions, Trust, and Targeted Assistance. These core values form the foundation of the center’s operations.

The center is staffed by a team of professionals: a psychologist, a social worker, a case manager, mentors, and a community mobilizer. They provide daily support to the residents of the Dobroslav community, helping them navigate the challenges posed by wartime.

At the Family Center, parents and children can engage in group activities, receive individual consultations, humanitarian aid, and join mothers' clubs.

The Women’s Center offers training courses, support meetings, leadership workshops, and violence prevention training, as well as girls' clubs for teenagers.

“The opening of such a space during the war is not just a humanitarian necessity but a powerful step towards protection, equality, and hope,” emphasized Jamila Akhter, a child protection specialist at UNICEF.

This initiative was made possible thanks to the Charitable Foundation “Winds of Change” with financial support from UNICEF.

The ПОРАДА center is yet another example of how the program ‘How are you?’ transforms communities and helps Ukrainians maintain their mental health despite ongoing challenges.

The development and implementation of the program is coordinated by the Coordination Center of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine / Mental Health UA with expert support from WHO.