On the 4th and 5th of November an integration activity entitled as “Seasons through the eyes of children” was held for internally displaced persons (hereinafter – IDPs) and representatives of the host community in Kramatorsk, Donetsk region. The activity was initiated by the Donetsk Regional State Administration and supported by the Council of Europe Project “Strengthening the Human Rights Protection of Internally Displaced Persons in Ukraine”.

The activity aimed at integrating IDPs and their children into the host community by facilitating the communication and organizing interactive competitions for children among which drawing and handmade modeling contests. Around 150 children and adults from IDP families and other affected population took part in the event.

Professional trainers organized workshops aiming to improve social skills and interactions between individuals, increase resilience to negative influences and factors, raise awareness on psychological issues and develop competencies  to make sure  that IDPs and especially IDP children do not undergo discriminatory treatment.

For instance, parents, psychologists and teachers met a coach in the “Child’s space” and got the possibility to get acquainted with methods to improve communication with children. These methods will allow the representative of the host community to assess properly the needs of IDPs and to address the specific problems that they face. It will encourage the creation of a dialogue between the representatives of the host community and IDPs.