“I did it!” — 11-year-old Marko rejoices as soon as he completes a task.

Not so long ago, moments like these seemed out of reach for him. He was too impulsive, overly active, unable to concentrate, especially during lessons.

When psychologist Nataliya Liventseva first invited the family to our center for art therapy, no one expected quick changes. But what mattered was the beginning. Now, step by step, Marko is learning to channel his energy and curiosity about the world in ways that benefit both himself and others.

“We created an individual support program for him: sessions with a psychologist and a speech therapist, a clear daily routine, timers so he wouldn’t lose track of time. And also we taught his parents how best to support Marko at home,” Nataliia explains.

What the boy enjoys most are competitions, there he releases excess energy, learns discipline, and feels his own successes. Marko has also discovered his “quiet corner”, a place where he can retreat from noise and restore his strength.

Today, he already controls himself better, knows how to negotiate with peers, and understands that his energy can be a strength, not a burden.

At Save Ukraine, we believe: no special trait is a sentence. It is simply a path, o( ne that can be understood, accepted, and learned to live with.

This project was created by Save Ukraine thanks to a grant from the Children’s Resilience Fund: Providing Capacity Building and Funding to Ukrainian Civil Society Organisations in Ukraine.

The program is implemented by Crown Agents and Integrity Action.