In one of our Save Ukraine day centers, you can often see a simple but powerful scene.

A boy sits at a small table, arranging wooden cubes. Across from him, a woman gently mirrors his movements — repeating sounds, smiling, waiting.

That woman is Iryna Hordinets, a speech therapist with over 35 years of experience. She works with children who have experienced occupation, displacement, or developmental challenges — including autism, selective mutism, and trisomy 21.

“My goal is not just to teach children how to speak correctly,” she says.

“It’s to help them feel heard. Because when a child is silent, their whole world is silent.”

Rebuilding communication after trauma

One of Iryna’s students, Hordiy, came to the center after living under occupation.

He didn’t speak. He didn’t respond when spoken to. He avoided eye contact. For weeks, they practiced breathing, articulation, rhythm, and play. Slowly, the silence began to lift — first came individual sounds, then words, and finally simple phrases. A month later, Hordiy proudly recited his first poem aloud. Today, he attends a regular school and communicates with peers.

“When a child who was silent starts to speak — that’s a miracle,” Iryna says. “But it’s a miracle built on trust, patience, and everyday work.”

Why speech therapy matters in recovery

Speech therapy in post-war Ukraine is not only about language. It’s about rebuilding connection — between a child and the world around them. It helps children regain confidence, social bonds, and the ability to express their needs and emotions.

Every sound a child pronounces, every word they recall, is a step toward resilience. At Save Ukraine, our specialists see this transformation daily. Through play, therapy, and compassion, children are reclaiming what war tried to take from them — their voice, identity, and sense of belonging.

💛 Help us bring this recovery to more children. Your donation can help restore their voices, confidence, and future.

👉 Donate here.