“I’ve always felt that I wanted to be useful to others” — Snizhana Kosar, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Volunteer at the Chernivtsi regional branch of the Ukrainian Red Cross

Snizhana Kosar, from the village of Ploska in Bukovyna, joined the Ukrainian Red Cross in 2023. After the outbreak of full-scale war, she began searching for a volunteering opportunity, and a colleague suggested she consider psychosocial support. According to her, she has always felt the desire to be useful to others, and the events in the country only motivated her to become more active.

Snizhana learned about the Psychological First Aid (PFA) training at one of the team meetings for volunteers. She wanted to systematise her knowledge and learn how to work according to the Ukrainian Red Cross’s clear framework. What was most memorable was that sometimes, the right words or even silence are enough to help someone.

The volunteer was particularly touched when she helped a family with young children find temporary shelter. Snizhana recalls that their sincere gratitude stayed with her for a long time.

In addition, thanks to the training, she has learned to better recognise her own emotions, work through them, and take care of herself. “I became more organised, more sensitive to the needs of others, and learned how to maintain emotional balance in difficult situations,” she says. Walking in the woods, spending time with loved ones, and reading help the volunteer recover after busy working days.

Snizhana believes that PFA training should be mandatory for anyone who works with people. In her opinion, it is fundamental knowledge that is critically important today. The PFA training she received is supported by the European Commission as part of the #EU4Health programme.