Zaporizhzhia has completed the third season of training in Hibuki Therapy — a modern psychological support tool for children experiencing stress and the consequences of war. A further 40 psychologists, educators, representatives of civil society organisations, and mental health centres have received their certificates. In total, 115 specialists have now been trained in the city since the project's launch.
The Hibuki Therapy project in Zaporizhzhia is implemented by the NGO "Zaporizhzhia. Platform for Joint Action" with the financial support of Metinvest Group and Zaporizhstal in cooperation with the Department of Education and Science of Zaporizhzhia City Council.
For frontline Zaporizhzhia, where thousands of children live under conditions of constant psychological pressure on a daily basis, such initiatives make it possible to expand the pool of specialists capable of helping children restore their sense of security and emotional balance.
"Today we are completing another important milestone in a great cause. Behind every trained specialist stand dozens of children who will receive support and care. For Metinvest, this project holds particular value, as it helps preserve what matters most — childhood. We have supported it from the very beginning and will continue to do so," said Iraisat Mahomedaliieva, Head of a Unit at the Regional Development Department of Metinvest Group.
During the training, participants mastered the Israeli methodology for working with childhood anxiety and stress, and subsequently applied their knowledge in practice.
"Hibuki Therapy is a simple yet highly effective tool. It integrates seamlessly into the work of psychologists and educators and helps establish a trusting relationship with a child. Already after the first sessions, we were seeing positive changes, and parents noted that their children had begun to understand their own emotions better and to speak more openly about their feelings," said Anna Zastelo, a psychologist at the Charitable Foundation "Voices of Children" and a course participant.
The effectiveness of the method was also confirmed by specialists working with adolescents.
"At first, I was concerned about how older children would respond to this form of work. But after the very first sessions, I saw genuine interest and openness. That was when it became clear just how much this tool is needed," shared Liudmyla Shevchenko, a psychologist at the Charitable Organization "100% Life. Zaporizhzhia" and a course participant.
Upon the completion of the training, the participants were congratulated by Dafna Sharon-Maksymov, the creator of the Hibuki Therapy method.
"The most valuable aspect of your training is the opportunity to be alongside children at the very moment they need it most. You have gained the knowledge and practical tools to change the lives of children and their families for the better," she emphasised.
As a reminder, the Hibuki Therapy project has been implemented in Zaporizhzhia with the support of Metinvest and Zaporizhstal since 2024. Over this period, the project has passed through three stages of development — from the first training courses to the formation of a professional community of specialists working in schools, kindergartens, civil society organisations, and psychological support centres. They are currently helping more than two hundred children overcome the effects of stress and traumatic experiences.
In 2026, Zaporizhzhia's experience began to be scaled to other cities where Metinvest operates. With the Сompany's support, the project is being implemented in Kryvyi Rih and Kamianske. Overall, a total of 120 teachers, educators, and psychologists are planned to be trained across the three cities this year.
"The Hibuki Therapy project has become an example of how the combined efforts of business, the civil sector, and the educational community deliver real results. Thanks to Metinvest's support, we were not only able to successfully implement the project in Zaporizhzhia, but also to begin scaling it to other cities," said Dmytro Khalilov, Director of the NGO "Zaporizhzhia. Platform for Joint Action".
For 20 years, Metinvest Group has been providing systematic support to initiatives aimed at community development and improving the quality of life of their residents. In the year of its 20th anniversary, the Company continues to implement projects that help people navigate the challenges of wartime and lay the foundation for the recovery and sustainable development of cities.
