.png)
Stay in the loop
join our newsletter
Stay connected and learn how we respond to emergencies, amplify displaced voices, and provide sanctuary for those facing adversity.
As the war in Ukraine enters another brutal season, the toll is not only measured in ruined cities or displaced families. The most enduring wounds are invisible. Veterans return from the frontlines unable to sleep. Widows like Olha — a young doctor and volunteer — wake each morning to an absence that cannot be filled. Children show signs of deep anxiety and trauma that, left untreated, may shape their entire lives.
The World Health Organization estimates 9.6 million Ukrainians are struggling with mental health conditions. Nearly 4 million already face severe trauma-related disorders such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety. For children, the numbers are just as stark: one study found that over a third of adolescents are exhibiting trauma symptoms.
To make healing possible for displaced Ukrainians, Alight is investing in multiple mental health initiatives in Ukraine and beyond.
SH+ Stress Management Program
In Kharkiv, the sound of air raid sirens is nearly constant. Families hurry to basements and shelters, sometimes with only minutes to spare. For the over 200K displaced people now living in the city, and for the residents who never left, daily life is marked by uncertainty, exhaustion, and fear.
In such circumstances, stress management becomes a vital tool for survival. And this is just what Alight is providing: “Self-Help Plus” (SH+) is a stress management program developed by the World Health Organization. It’s simple, evidence-based, and designed for people living under extreme stress. The program enables people to find inner balance to effectively manage the main events of their lives, make informed decisions, feel confident in their own actions and be ready for unexpected changes.
Fifteen local facilitators — teachers, social workers, NGO staff, and volunteers — have already been trained to lead SH+ sessions. These are people from the community, ready to sit beside their neighbors in shelters, classrooms, and community centers, offering practical tools to reduce stress and rebuild resilience.
.png)
Safe spaces for seniors
For senior citizens, the war has meant more than just physical danger — it has brought isolation, fear, and the quiet grief of disconnection.
In partnership with local community organization Mother’s Palms in Kharkiv, Alight has created a space for healing – to support elderly Ukrainians evacuated to collective shelters—people too often isolated and overlooked. Together, we’re building a community of care, where seniors can reconnect with joy, strength, and each other.
From art therapy and neuro-gymnastics to physical rehab and visits to museums and zoos, nearly 100 participants are rediscovering what it means to feel alive and supported.
And the impact is clear:
"The impressions are wonderful, the mood is wonderful. We come here, we distract ourselves from our problems, and from air alerts. We feel comfortable and want to come back." - shares Nadiia, a 67-year-old participant.
Building safety nets for veterans, widows and children
Alight is also working hand in hand with veteran associations and women’s groups to create what they call a trauma-care safety net. It’s built on four pillars:
For those carrying invisible wounds, each day without support is a day when trauma deepens: a veteran withdraws further into PTSD; a widow’s grief deepens into despair, a child’s trauma hardens into a lifelong burden.
But healing is possible. With every trained facilitator, every safe space, and every counseling session, Ukrainians are finding ways to face the fear, the grief, and the uncertainty — together. This is not just about recovery from war. It is about ensuring that the hidden wounds of today do not define generations to come.
While global attention fades, Sudan is facing the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with war, famine, disease, and floods threatening millions of lives. Alight Sudan's Executive Director, Mohammed Idriss, calls on funders and philanthropists to step in before it’s too late.
READ MORE ↗
This is a story of how shared power emerges through leadership, creativity, and community resilience
READ MORE ↗Stay connected and learn how we respond to emergencies, amplify displaced voices, and provide sanctuary for those facing adversity.