Ukrainian Resilience Model Showcased as Ukrainian and Estonian Ministers Visit Bucha

Minister for Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine, Denys Uliutin, and the Minister of Social Affairs of the Republic of Estonia, Karmen Joller, visited the Resilience Centre in Bucha — a community space offering psychosocial support for people affected by war. The Centre, which opened just over a year ago, was the first of its kind established in a town that had experienced Russian occupation.

The ministers observed several initiatives during their visit, including a Self-Help Plus group based on a WHO-developed programme for managing stress, a youth club helping teenagers navigate emotional challenges, and a parenting session from UNICEF’s Parenting Without Stress programme. These activities form part of a broader service designed to strengthen resilience by combining psychological, social and educational support in a safe and inclusive environment.

“In Bucha, the Resilience Centre has become a vital source of strength for people rebuilding their lives after trauma,” noted Denys Uliutin. “Partnerships like the one we have with Estonia — based on learning, mutual respect and shared values — are helping us shape stronger, more responsive support systems.”

The Resilience Centre model is relatively new in Europe. It draws on elements from family support spaces in Estonia and Sweden, as well as trauma recovery practices used in Israel. What sets the Ukrainian approach apart is the context: developed and deployed during a full-scale war, it addresses large-scale psychological needs under extreme conditions.

“What we saw today in Bucha is a systemic approach to recovery that deserves to be studied and scaled,” emphasized Karmen Joller. “This model deserves international attention. It’s not only relevant to Ukraine —it holds relevance for the international community, which is seeking new and effective ways to support people in crisis.”

Ukraine and Estonia continue to deepen their partnership on social policy, with a shared focus on inclusive recovery, dignity-driven services and resilient communities.

Earlier in the day, the delegation paid tribute to the victims of Russian occupation by laying flowers at the local memorial, accompanied by representatives of the Ukrainian authorities. They also visited St Andrew’s Church, where they viewed a Reuters photo exhibition documenting the human cost of Russia’s invasion.

Background:

The Bucha Resilience Centre has been operating since April 2024 with support from Ukraine’s Ministry for Social Policy, Family and Unity, the Bucha City Council and the local Centre for Social Services. It is part of the nationwide “How are you?” mental health initiative, launched by First Lady Olena Zelenska.

The Centre is open to everyone — from veterans and displaced families to children, teenagers, and people living with disabilities. Over the past 18 months, it has welcomed more than 1,200 unique visitors and recorded over 25,000 individual support contacts.