Ukrainian Humanitarian Resiliency Project
On Thursday, February 24, 2022, a group of Ukrainian educators from EdCamp Ukraine, who promote the SEE Learning Program, met with the Trauma Resource Institute requesting immediate humanitarian assistance to provide a series of Community Resiliency Model (CRM)® Webinars for the Ukrainian people as a result of the Russian invasion. TRI immediately mobilized a team, which included members of our global international network of CRM and TRM Teachers and translators. Within 24 hours, a program was created and a customized curriculum designed specifically for this crisis was put into motion.
Elaine Miller-Karas, a Senior Consultant to SEE Learning, has established a strong relationship with EdCamp Ukraine while visiting Ukraine at their invitation in 2019. When in Ukraine, Oleksandr Elkin from EdCamp Ukraine and Elaine developed strong ties that led to the humanitarian offering of a CRM Teacher Training that was to start in March 2022 as a result of a potential invasion.
Thanks to the platforms of Zoom and Facebook Live, and the incredibly dedicated team of TRI staff and volunteers, we were able to provide four daily webinars from February 25th-28th, within 24-hours of the initial request without having to wait for perhaps weeks and preparing the cumbersome logistics of travel as in the past. At this writing, more than 10,000 Ukrainians have viewed the webinars on Facebook Live.
Stay tuned for more in the coming days as we continue to provide daily drop-in booster sessions to continue support as long as is needed starting March 1, 2022. We sent a request for support to our TRI network and, to date, scores of individuals have volunteered to help.
We want to thank our colleagues at Edcamp Ukraine for coordinating the webinars during the most challenging of life events, from shelters and while bombs fall. Among our critical supporters were three translators (Natalia, Vira, and Mattea) all trained in the use of CRM skills who volunteered to translate our materials into Ukrainian immediately in time for each day’s workshop. They also served as both interpreters and direct presenters of the material during the four workshops. This not only aided in communication, but in cultural nuances, and offered us instant feedback directly from their family and friends on the ground.
We are truly one world with a common humanity. We embrace all who suffer during these unprecedented times.
Click the buttons below to watch the Facebook Live sessions held with EdCamp Ukraine.
A Message of Hope
In an effort to provide encouragement to our colleagues in Ukraine, TRI reached out to Dr. Joy Miller (CEO, Resiliency 2022) to coordinate a message from Dr. Edith Eger, eminent psychologist and one of the few remaining Holocaust survivors old enough to remember life in the camps. Desmond Tutu had this to say about Dr. Eger: “Dr. Eger’s life reveals our capacity to transcend even the greatest of horrors and to use that suffering for the benefit of others. She has found true freedom and forgiveness and shows us how we can as well.”
In the first video, Dr. Eger offers an inspiring message of hope to those who attended the webinar live and to all who are impacted by the events occurring in Ukraine.
In this second video, Elaine Miller-Karas provides a brief introduction to Dr. Joy Miller as she interviews Dr. Eger, who offers an extended message of hope. Dr. Eger encourages those living in Ukraine not to lose hope. Although this message was directed specifically for those in Ukraine, it is a message we can all benefit from.
Ways to Support
By donating to TRI, you are providing material assistance to help cover TRI’s operating expenses for the programs we are providing to the Ukrainian people. If you are unable to provide financial support, please support us by spreading the story via social media of the incredible efforts of Edcamp Ukraine, in partnership with TRI, to help build and strengthen the resilience of adults, children, and families being directly impacted by the invasion.
In addition, TRI secured funds to complete an update to the free iChill App so that it can also be offered in Ukrainian to provide another tool that supports the well-being of those impacted in the months ahead. This is only possible through your help to fund these efforts.
Steven Luff from the Denver Foundation gave a generous gift of $20,000 toward this project, but more is needed as we continue to provide ongoing support. By joining them, you will help sustain TRI's support now and expand these services in the future.
You can support this mission by clicking the button below. There you can provide a one-time donation to this project or consider an ongoing monthly donation to support TRI’s long-term commitment to expand access to healing and empowerment for individuals and communities around the world.
You can also help spread the word by sharing this message through your various communication channels and on social media.