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Certificate peer learning programme on Psychological First Aid (PFA) in support of children affected by the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine

PFA Accelerator

Learn by doing: Use Psychological First Aid (PFA) to support children affected by the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.

3 top reasons to join

1. Turn your experience into action: Develop and implement local action to strengthen support for Ukrainian children.
2. Learn from peers: Connect with fellow professionals to problem-solve challenges.
3. Make a difference: Learn to use Psychological First Aid (PFA) to better help children in distress.

Who should apply?

• Teachers, teachers’ assistants and other education professionals
• Social workers and counselors
• Mental health specialists
• Healthcare providers
• Red Cross staff and volunteers

Everyone who supports children affected by the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine is welcome.

How does it work?

Each week, we launch a new PFA Accelerator session with a check-in on Monday. This is a peer learning session in which Accelerator participants share experiences in implementing their local actions. Learn by listening to success stories, lessons learned, and challenges – and share your own.

1. Apply

Applications for the PFA Accelerator are now open. We ask about:

1. Your experience supporting children affected by the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.
2. A challenge you want to address through local action.
3. Your experience with Psychological First Aid for children (if any).
4. How peer support could help you achieve your goals.

This is not just an application. It is the first step in joining a community of professionals taking action to better support children.

2. Take action

1. Identify your challenge: Define a specific issue you face in supporting Ukrainian children.
2. Set your weekly goal: Plan small, achievable actions to address your challenge.
3. Learn with peers: Join Monday check-ins to share progress and learn from others.

3. Share your progress

1. Report your progress: Share what worked and what didn’t each Friday (30 minutes).
2. Access resources: Get trusted PFA materials from Red Cross and other experts.
3. Build your network: Connect with colleagues for ongoing mutual support.

From learning to action

Practical information

Special considerations for professionals in Ukraine

We understand the unique challenges faced by professionals in Ukraine:

• Unstable internet access? Watch recordings later or submit feedback when you can.
• Electricity disruptions? No penalties for missing sessions or late submissions.
• Security concerns? Highest-standard data protection for conflict-affected areas.
• Limited time? Flexible participation allows you to engage when you can.

Real examples of local action shared by programme participants

Professionals like you have already used Psychological First Aid (PFA) to strengthen activities like these:

• Created child-friendly corners in emergency shelters with toys, books, and art materials.
• Established safe spaces for conversations designed specifically for children’s needs.
• Adapted communication approaches for adolescents whose needs differ from younger children.
• Used art and play activities to help children process traumatic experiences.
• Shared PFA techniques with colleagues to expand support capacity in your workplace.

Document your impact

Track the real difference you make in children’s lives

The PFA Measure tool helps you document the effectiveness of your PFA support with children.

• Simple to use: Record observations before and after providing PFA.
• Flexible options: Choose between quick assessment or detailed documentation.
• Developed for the Ukraine context: Based on real experiences with Ukrainian children.
• Evidence for practice: See which approaches work best in different situations.
• Available in Ukrainian and English: Easy to use in your preferred language.

Are you new to Psychological First Aid (PFA) for children?

We offer many ways to rapidly learn PFA for children:

1. PFA Basics: Learn the basics in our self-guided e-learning module.
2. PFA Experiences: Learn from experiences shared by programme participants.
3. Access PFA for children training opportunities from Red Cross National Societies in your country.

Have you already practiced PFA for children?

• By reflecting on your experiences and engaging with others, you will gain fresh perspectives to enhance your practice.
• Your insights will be invaluable in supporting less experienced peers and strengthening the overall crisis response for children.

Are you a mental health professional?

• Your expertise can enrich our peer learning community.
• While this program is not a substitute for professional training, it offers a space to gain insight into diverse perspectives, share knowledge to empower others, and collaborate on bridging PFA with specialized care.

Our commitments

In order to participate, we will ask you to honor the following commitments.

1. Child safeguarding

You will be asked to confirm your agreement to child safeguarding principles in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), the principles and values of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and the European Union (EU).

2. Confidentiality and safety

We trust each other in order to share and learn together.

Some participants may have legitimate concerns for their confidentiality or safety.

We will ask you to commit to respecting confidentiality. This means that you will not name individuals, organizations, or countries when sharing information.

3. Professional duties and obligations

You will also be required to fully respect and abide by any regulations, restrictions, and other requirements of your employer or government.

Frequently Asked Questions

About this project

In May 2022, with the support of the European Commission’s Directorate General For Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE), the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), with the Ukrainian Red Cross and 27 other European Red Cross Societies, launched the project “Provision of quality and timely psychological first aid to people affected by Ukraine crisis in impacted countries” supported by the EU4Health programme.

Funded by the EU’s EU4Health programme, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is collaborating with The Geneva Learning Foundation (TGLF) to provide online peer learning opportunities.

This project is funded by the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of TGLF and IFRC, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.