Accessibility
Ukrainian Sign Language video
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Friends of Ukraine Foundation — we remove the barriers between a person and help

Friends of Ukraine Foundation

We remove the barriers between a person and help

Physical, information and institutional barriers. We work with communities and with people the war has left without access to services.

Since 2022. Figures as of September 2026.

1 802

tonnes of humanitarian aid

1 205

vehicles delivered to the front

10 000

families received aid

1 500+

individual psychological consultations

What we are doing now

Six active programmes

Participants of an interagency workshop in discussion
Ongoing

NEXUS: a network for change

We align social services, the police and local authorities in cases of violence, bullying and crisis requests: shared procedures, staff training and information exchange.

Who it is for
Local authorities, social services, police
Geography
All of Ukraine
Partners
Ombudsman Office, National Police human rights inspection, NSSSU, UIM
Training
About 590 participants as of September 2026
Support
Askold and Dir Foundation, administered by ISAR Ednannia, funded by Norway and Sweden
Read more
A group meeting of the psychological support programme
Ongoing

Choven

Psychological recovery for women and families who lost loved ones or lived through occupation: group sessions, individual consultations and stays for children.

Who it is for
Women and children affected by the war
Format
Stays, groups, individual work
Participant rating
9.62 / 10
Partners
HelpUA.PT, Phoenix centre, regional councils
Read more
A class with children at school
Ongoing

Safe School: crisis readiness and a safe place for children

A safe and barrier-free school: first aid, what to do during an air alert and evacuation, and learning adapted for deaf children.

Who it is for
Schools, teachers, pupils
Format
Training at the school
Geography
Kyiv and Kyiv region
Support
Askold and Dir Foundation, administered by ISAR Ednannia, funded by Norway and Sweden
Read more
A sign language interpreter at an event
Ongoing

Accessibility and sign language

WCAG audits of public websites, Ukrainian Sign Language support, and training for service centres and municipal staff.

Who it is for
Deaf people and local authorities
Service
Free sign-language consultation
City
Sumy and the region
Read more
A vehicle handed over to a military unit
Ongoing

Military support for the Defence Forces

Vehicles, equipment and training systems requested by units. This is the work the Foundation started with in 2022.

Who it is for
Armed Forces, SES, Defence Forces
Delivered
1,205 vehicles since 2022
Geography
All of Ukraine, logistics from the EU
Read more
Volunteers packing food parcels
Ongoing

Humanitarian aid

Food parcels, school backpacks and essentials, delivered to named families on lists from communities and partner organisations.

Who it is for
Families of the fallen, displaced people, people with disabilities
Delivered
1,802 tonnes, 10,000 families
Note
Distribution with sign-language support
Read more

Training

The Foundation training centre

Programmes for people who speak with the public every day: service centres, authorities, police, social services, medics and teachers.

Mental health and clinical competence

What a psychologist should do when a session goes beyond their competence: how to assess the state, formulate the case and decide the next step.

For psychologists, psychotherapists and MHPSS staff

1 programme · enrolment open

Mental health and clinical competence

For professionals who work with people in crisis and regularly meet states outside their own competence.

For practising psychologists and psychotherapists without a medical degree; psychologists in schools, social services and veteran spaces; MHPSS staff; senior psychology students.

  • Enrolment open

    Introduction to mental disorders for psychologists

    The course builds the ability to recognise psychopathology in oneʼs own practice, assess the client, choose a justified next step and work with psychiatric services. It does not train diagnosis and does not give the right to prescribe treatment.

    60 hours / 2 ECTS · 14 online meetings · Certificate after the final test

Period
28 September — 28 December 2026
Schedule
Mondays at 19:00, 3 academic hours
Volume
42 contact hours and 18 hours of independent work
Entry
Open, no selection
Recordings
Published after each meeting

Communication without barriers

How to speak with a person when the usual way fails: the visitor cannot hear, the other person is in acute distress, or the conversation turns into conflict.

For service centres, authorities, police and clinics

3 programmes · 2 available now

Communication without barriers

How to speak with a person when the usual way fails.

For service centres, authorities, police and clinics

  • On request

    Communicating with deaf people

    Basic etiquette, written and visual communication, calling a sign language interpreter, and typical staff mistakes.

    6 hours · in person · Certificate with hours

  • On request

    How to talk with veterans and their families

    Ethics, trust and support on the way to adaptation and employment. Trainer: Olena Shytko.

    7 hours · in person · up to 25 people · Certificate with hours

  • In development

    Barrier-free service for visitors

    Receiving a person with a disability: physical access, respectful language, reasonable accommodation.

    to be confirmed · Certificate with hours

Hear when a programme launches

Leave a contact and we will send the description and dates once the programme is confirmed.

Projects

What we have done since 2022

Projects by year. Those still running are marked.

2022

The first year. Humanitarian logistics and support for the military.

2023

A turn toward recovery: psychology, rehabilitation, children.

  • Restart. Rehabilitation
  • Crisis psychological support
  • TRANQUIL HEART. Portugal
  • Support at the Invictus Games

News

What is happening now

Choose an area to see only that news.

Get in touch

Choose what you need

We reply within three working days. Services inside current programmes are free.

I need help

  • Available Sign language interpreting
  • Available Accompaniment at a public institution
  • No intake Individual psychological consultation

Some groups are paused while we raise funds for the next cycle. Leave a request and we will write when intake opens.

If you need support now, do not wait: 7333 — Lifeline Ukraine, 116 111 — line for children and young people. Anonymous and free.

Leave a request

We are a community or institution

  • Digital accessibility audit
  • Staff training
  • Join NEXUS
Submit a request

We are a donor or partner

  • Organisation profile and reports
  • Reach and results
View documents

Donors and partners

Who funds and supports this work

Programmes run with international donors and together with authorities, schools and civil society organisations.

Donors

All memorandums and partnerships

The work of the Friends of Ukraine Foundation is supported by the Askold and Dir Foundation, administered by ISAR Ednannia within the project A strong civil society of Ukraine as a driver of reforms and democracy, funded by Norway and Sweden. The content is the responsibility of the Foundation and does not reflect the views of the governments of Norway or Sweden or of ISAR Ednannia.