From December 26 to 29, 2024, the second wave of the psychological rehabilitation program Source of Strength took place in Kolomyia. This group support program was initiated by the Canadian non-profit Maple Hope Foundation and was created to help women who have lost loved ones due to the war.
This time, the therapeutic work was more specialized and focused on the topic of grieving the loss of a loved one. The December program welcomed 14 mothers whose brave sons and daughters gave their lives on the front line, defending the freedom and democracy of their country. Women who experience such loss face not only deep sorrow but also the challenge of redefining their lives in a world where their support and anchor are no longer present.
One of the participants recalls a moment when women sat together in a circle, holding hands, and, for the first time in a long while, felt that they were not alone in their grief.
“I came here feeling that no one would understand me, that my pain was unique. But it turned out that there were women here who felt the same. We talked, we cried, and we simply sat in silence together – and that was the most precious thing,” she shared.
Throughout the program, the women participated in group therapy sessions with psychologists, engaged in art therapy, took cultural excursions, and joined recreational activities.
Each day included therapeutic group work led by experienced specialists, including the co-founder of Maple Hope Foundation, PhD Svitlana Kominko, a counsellor who received specialized training in grief support from David Kessler, as well as counsellor Hanna Kisilishyna, a mother who lost her son in the Olenivka terrorist attack.
A crucial aspect of healing is a change of environment, gaining new experiences, redirecting attention, and engaging in physical activity. The participants painted traditional pysanky at the Pysanka Museum, took part in creative workshops, visited cultural sites in Verkhovyna and Kosiv, and enjoyed hydrotherapy in Carpathian hot tubs.
The recreational component was coordinated by Iryna Bordun, head of the NGO Strength of Life, which supports military wives and their families. Having lost both her husband and brother, Iryna emphasizes the significance of such initiatives:
“Many women who experience loss withdraw into their grief. We want to give them space to process this pain rather than hide from it. The enemy took our loved ones, but we must continue to live.”
The final day concluded with a circle of support, where the women shared their emotions, reflections, and the invaluable realization that they are now stronger.
“These days became a safe space for me, where I could finally allow myself to feel. Grief doesn’t disappear, but when you have women around you who have experienced the same, it becomes easier to carry this pain," shared one of the participants.
The Source of Strength support program is part of Maple Hope Foundation’s mental health initiatives for Ukrainians affected by the war. It was born out of the foundation’s first project in this area, Healing the Wounds of the War Together, implemented in Canada.
The team quickly realized that a specific group of women required even deeper support — those whose husbands, sons, or brothers had been killed, taken prisoner, or gone missing. Thus, in the summer of 2024, the program was launched as Ukraine’s first psychological and recreational retreat — Source of Strength.
Funding and Support
The Source of Strength program is entirely free for participants.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to donors, sponsors, participants of fundraising events, and everyone who has supported this initiative. The second round of the program in December was made possible thanks to:
- Charity Christmas concerts by Oksana Mukha, an honored artist of Ukraine, whose tour in Ottawa and Vancouver was supported by Maple Hope Foundation. Problick Decorative Ceramics Studio generously donated its ornaments for auction during this tour.
- Direct donations to the psychological support initiative on the Maple Hope Foundation website.
- Financial support from Ukrainian Canadian Social Services Ottawa Branch, led by Maryna Popovych.
- Contributions from the Ukrainian Women’s Association of Ottawa (UWAC), represented by Olena Stetskewych.
- Generous support from Ulyana Melnychuk and Lyubomyr Melnychuk.
We deeply appreciate your kindness and support!
The next step in supporting mothers of fallen heroes is launching an international fundraising campaign — Heal the Mother’s Heart. Dedicated to Mother’s Day, this campaign aims to raise funds to provide assistance to more women and to train psychologists in Ukraine to support those experiencing profound loss.
Stay tuned for updates!