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About us
Who are we?
Important is a non-profit organization established on the initiative of child psychologist Olga Tovpeko. Its mission is to provide psychological support to parents and children in Ukraine whose lives have been affected by war.
Who are we?
Important is a non-profit organization established on the initiative of child psychologist Olga Tovpeko. Its mission is to provide psychological support to parents and children in Ukraine whose lives have been affected by war.
The history of the foundation
Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion against Ukraine, Ukrainian parents have faced a heavy burden: not only to protect their children from the war but also to become a reliable source of support in the face of uncertainty, despair, and fear. For adults overwhelmed by stress and paralyzed by their own fears, this task becomes exceedingly challenging.
Recognizing these challenges, child psychologist Olga Tovpeko formed a team of volunteer psychologists who provide psychological support to parents and children in Ukraine for their psychological recovery and to find the strength to continue a meaningful life.
The history of the foundation
Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion against Ukraine, Ukrainian parents have faced a heavy burden: not only to protect their children from the war but also to become a reliable source of support in the face of uncertainty, despair, and fear. For adults overwhelmed by stress and paralyzed by their own fears, this task becomes exceedingly challenging.
Recognizing these challenges, child psychologist Olga Tovpeko formed a team of volunteer psychologists who provide psychological support to parents and children in Ukraine for their psychological recovery and to find the strength to continue a meaningful life.
The history of the foundation
Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion against Ukraine, Ukrainian parents have faced a heavy burden: not only to protect their children from the war but also to become a reliable source of support in the face of uncertainty, despair, and fear. For adults overwhelmed by stress and paralyzed by their own fears, this task becomes exceedingly challenging.
Recognizing these challenges, child psychologist Olga Tovpeko formed a team of volunteer psychologists who provide psychological support to parents and children in Ukraine for their psychological recovery and to find the strength to continue a meaningful life.
April 2022
The Support Chat for Ukrainian parents was created, where psychologists answered parents' questions daily, including weekends, recommended exercises, and provided support to more than 1000 parents.
June 2022
The launch of four pilot support groups for children aged 7 to 11 who have been affected by the war. Children from Mariupol, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Kyiv region, Odessa, and other cities in Ukraine participated in the project. Some of them experienced occupation and bombings, some underwent exhausting evacuations, some were forced to move and be separated from their families, and some stayed in Ukraine under rocket attacks. Parents of participating children noted a significant reduction in symptoms of anxiety, aggression, fears, and hyperarousal, and they reported improvements in their relationships with their children.
September 2022
the start of ongoing support groups for parents and children. Until May 2023, even before the establishment of the public organization, 10 support groups for parents and children were conducted as part of a volunteer project:
2 support groups for parents.2 groups for wives of military personnel.2 groups for parents who lost loved ones in the war.4 support groups for children aged 8 to 12.
August 2023
The establishment of the public organization "Important" and the beginning of a new chapter in the project's history, with plans to scale up assistance to support hundreds and thousands of children and parents in Ukraine.
January 2024
Launch of the Children of Warriors project, a support group for children of military personnel, continuation of the Invisible Home Front and To Move On projects for wives and widows of military personnel, continuation of research into the effectiveness of the project program.
January 2025
Launch of the project "Children of Fallen Warriors" - a support group for children of military personnel who have been killed in action. Simultaneous work on four projects for children and wives of active and fallen military personnel.
September 2025
Launch of the project "Children of Missing Soldiers" - a support group for children of military personnel with whom contact has been lost. Six projects running in parallel: three children's and three adult support programs for children and wives of military personnel. Grant awarded by the KSE Foundation. Launch of the project "Therapeutic Readers" for children of military personnel in collaboration with the publishing house "Fish on the Roof".
Founder of the "Important" foundation
Olga Tovpeko:
Founder of the "Important" foundation
Olga Tovpeko:
Founder of the "Important" foundation
Olga Tovpeko:
"The sheer number of those affected by the war is so striking that we, as psychologists, need to step out of our offices and seek new ways to engage parents and children in the resources of psychological support. I would like parents and children in Ukraine to truly feel that their well-being, their pain, and their prosperity are important. That is the purpose of the "Important" foundation"
"The sheer number of those affected by the war is so striking that we, as psychologists, need to step out of our offices and seek new ways to engage parents and children in the resources of psychological support. I would like parents and children in Ukraine to truly feel that their well-being, their pain, and their prosperity are important. That is the purpose of the "Important" foundation"
"The sheer number of those affected by the war is so striking that we, as psychologists, need to step out of our offices and seek new ways to engage parents and children in the resources of psychological support. I would like parents and children in Ukraine to truly feel that their well-being, their pain, and their prosperity are important. That is the purpose of the "Important" foundation"
Our team
Benefactors and good friends of the public organization “Important”
The creation of the foundation would have been impossible without the support of numerous individuals who have been with us throughout our existence. We express our sincere gratitude to our friends and sponsors:
Benefactors and good friends of the public organization “Important”
The creation of the foundation would have been impossible without the support of numerous individuals who have been with us throughout our existence. We express our sincere gratitude to our friends and sponsors:
Benefactors and good friends of the public organization “Important”
The creation of the foundation would have been impossible without the support of numerous individuals who have been with us throughout our existence. We express our sincere gratitude to our friends and sponsors: