The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and The Geneva Learning Foundation (TGLF) are launching PFA Connect, a new platform for education, social work, and health professionals who support children from Ukraine. The platform builds on a new peer learning network launched by IFRC and TGLF in 2024 that is already reaching more than 2,000 practitioners from 27 European countries.
This network responds to a critical need: while traditional training provides essential foundations, professionals benefit most from exchanging practical solutions with peers facing similar challenges. “I felt like I was part of a community of like-minded people who care about children’s mental health,” shares Halyna Fedoryshyn, an education professional from Ukraine who earned her first PFA certificate in 2024. “I had the opportunity to expand my social contacts with professionals outside of Ukraine,” .
“PFA” refers to Psychological first aid (PFA), a practical way to support children experiencing crisis-related distress. This includes creating safe spaces, listening without pressure to talk, addressing immediate needs, and connecting children with appropriate support services. Through PFA Connect, practitioners will share experience to help problem-solve common challenges.
Andreea-Elena Andras, a Red Cross health professional in Romania explains: “By hearing and learning from real stories, I learned new ways of linking with children and create a safe place, such as grounding, breathing and other techniques”.
See what we learned from 873 practitioners…
PFA Connect aims to address a critical need identified through work with practitioners: while training provides essential foundations, professionals build capacity through experience. Exchanging practical solutions with peers facing similar challenges can accelerate the ability to support children from Ukraine.
PFA Connect will offer 30-minute online sessions in English and Ukrainian where practitioners share challenges and solutions. The platform aims to complement existing Red Cross activities by focusing on rapid exchange between professionals.
The initiative operates as part of a broader European Union-funded project through EU4Health programme, involving the Ukrainian Red Cross and 27 other European Red Cross Societies, with the technical support and expertise of the Red Cross Red Crescent (RCRC) Movement MHPSS Hub,
“Throughout 2024, we have witnessed the power of practitioners learning from each other’s experiences,” says Panu Saaristo , Europe’s Regional Manager for Health and Care at the IFRC. “Our collaboration with The Geneva Learning Foundation represents our commitment to strengthen this peer learning approach, recognizing that the most effective solutions often come from professionals working directly with affected children.”
“I feel more equipped to make a positive impact in my role,” reported Jelena Horvat Petanjko, an education professional from Croatia. “The practical knowledge and real-life examples inspired me to adapt my methods and approach challenges with greater empathy and creativity.”
“The challenges facing professionals supporting Ukrainian children cannot be solved through traditional training alone,” explains Reda Sadki Sadki, Executive Director of The Geneva Learning Foundation. “What we have learned is that the solutions already exist within the network of practitioners. Our role is to connect them with each other.”
PFA Connect will rapidly scale and expand this network, providing a rapid way for professionals to tap into the network’s collective intelligence in supporting Ukrainian children.
The network’s growth so far has been driven by Ukrainian professionals, especially those working in fragile contexts.
“Thanks to peer learning that is certified, I am able to provide better quality support and transfer knowledge about it to others,” says Alyona Kryvulyak, a social worker.
“I had answers to my questions… I can use my knowledge in practice… I saw that there are many perspectives,” notes Olga Synytsyna, a social work professional in Ukraine.
“In emergency response, we often focus on training and technical solutions,” says Reda Sadki. “But what we have learned from Ukrainian practitioners is that the most powerful solutions often emerge when professionals can learn directly from each other’s experience.”
For mental health professional Natalia Tsumarieva in Ukraine, peer learning has shifted her approach to supporting Ukrainian children: “I began to pay more attention to providing support in the initial stages of getting to know children. Understanding the importance of teaching these skills to my non-psychology students has also been valuable.”
While driven by those facing the most acute and urgent situations, this has become a truly Europe-wide project. As a Croatian education professional noted, “It is encouraging and inspiring to connect with people across Europe with the same goal and similar experiences. This shows that culture, gender and age are no barrier to mutual understanding and learning about supporting children.”
“Connecting practitioners across borders creates new possibilities,” adds Reda Sadki. “A social worker in Ukraine might develop an innovative approach that could help a teacher in Croatia facing similar challenges. Our role is to make these connections possible at scale.”
Professionals interested in joining the platform can register for the January 29 launch session, which begins at 4:00 PM CET. For additional information and to request your invitation, visit the PFA Connect platform. https://www.learning.foundation/ukraine
Note: This initiative is funded by the European Union through the EU4Health programme. Its contents are the sole responsibility of TGLF and IFRC, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.