A Summer of Hands-On Learning with SHERIFF

Teenagers supported by the Soborna Ukraine Foundation visited RAU Expo, one of Ukraine's largest professional events dedicated to retail, entrepreneurship, and business development. The event brings together representatives of leading Ukrainian companies, industry experts, employers, and young people, creating a space to explore modern professions, labor market trends, and new career opportunities. Hearing children talk about who they want to become is always inspiring. Their enthusiasm and eagerness to grow in many different directions are especially remarkable. That is why it is so important to show them just how many opportunities the world has to offer. For many participants, the visit was an opportunity to discover how diverse the professional world can be. They met with business representatives and explored new career paths where they may one day realize their talents and potential. We sincerely thank the Retail Association of Ukraine (RAU) for the invitation and for giving our children the opportunity to participate in Retail Talent Hub. Events like these help teenagers broaden their horizons, discover new sources of inspiration, and once again realize that a career should be chosen in line with their interests, abilities, and personal calling.

Twelve mothers and thirteen children supported by the Soborna Ukraine Foundation spent a week in Bukovel as part of the Foundation's recreational program. Thanks to the support of Phoenix Relax Park, the families had the opportunity to step away from their daily routines, spend time surrounded by nature, and focus on their own recovery. The program combined recreational activities with psychological support. Alongside new experiences, shared leisure activities, and exploring the Carpathian Mountains, participants took part in psychological practices and art therapy sessions designed to help them process emotions, strengthen their inner resilience, and develop new sources of inner support. At the Soborna Ukraine Foundation, we view recreation as an essential part of long-term recovery. For children, trips like these provide an opportunity to experience a safe environment, discover the world around them, create positive memories, and gradually regain a sense of stability. For mothers, they also offer a supportive space where they can connect with other women who have lived through similar experiences, spend time within a caring community, and once again feel that they are not alone in their grief. We sincerely thank Phoenix Relax Park for their hospitality and support of the families in our care, as well as Oleksandr Redka and Liliia for organizing the program. Partnerships like these provide families not only with the opportunity to travel, but also with a safe space where they can regain strength, rebuild trust in the world, and restore hope for the future.

Another support group meeting was held for the mothers and children supported by the Soborna Ukraine Foundation. These gatherings provide a safe space where they are surrounded by people who understand what they've been through, without having to explain it. There is room for conversation, quiet moments, and mutual support. Simply knowing that you are not alone in your grief often becomes one of the most important sources of strength on the path to recovery. During the meeting, participants had the opportunity to connect with one another, share their personal experiences, receive support from mental health professionals, and spend time in a community where everyone is free to be themselves. Support groups are an important part of the Soborna Ukraine Foundation's psychological support program. They help participants gradually regain their resilience, strengthen trust in others, and find the strength to move forward at their own pace. Another offline support group will take place next month, allowing families of fallen defenders to reconnect with their support community and with the people who stand beside them on their journey toward recovery.

On the eve of Vyshyvanka Day, the wives of fallen Ukrainian defenders supported by the Soborna Ukraine Foundation took part in creating the Embroidered Ribbon of Remembrance at the Sadyba na Kudriavtsi Museum. The initiative brought together people for whom remembering their loved one is part of everyday life. The Embroidered Ribbon of Remembrance initiative was launched by the Memorial Platform and the team of World Vyshyvanka Day. For many of the participants, the workshop became much more than an introduction to a cherished Ukrainian tradition. As they worked with thread and traditional patterns, memory seemed to take on a tangible form. Symbolic practices like these help not only preserve the memory of loved ones but also nurture an enduring bond with those who are no longer with us. In the peaceful atmosphere of the museum, with guidance from an embroidery instructor, each participant created her own ribbon. For some, it became a symbol of love; for others, of gratitude; and for many, a quiet way to express the most important feelings without words. We sincerely thank the Sadyba na Kudriavtsi Museum for its hospitality and for for creating such a welcoming space for this gathering.