Supporting Ukrainian Women and Girls with Compassionate Communications

Anti-Trafficking Information

With more than 26 million subscribers, Kyivstar is the largest provider of cell phone coverage in Ukraine. Project Kesher Ukraine has partnered with Kyivstar to provide anti-trafficking information on phone screens as Ukrainians cross the border and receive rate-change notifications. Kyivstar has featured Project Kesher on their website, which is visited by thousands of users every week. 

Trauma-Informed SMS Messages

As displaced or fighting Ukrainians have become dependent on their mobile devices for everything, Project Kesher’s emergency responses and planning have been highly technology-driven. Project Kesher has teamed up with Footage Foundation, along with technical support from mobile communications experts at Verb, and trafficking prevention experts from The Mara Partners to develop and fund a gender-responsive SMS communications network FemSMS. The purpose of this network is to share compassionate, trauma-informed SMS messages on women’s wellbeing, mental health, and safety. Footage, a feminist organization working globally with some of the world’s most vulnerable young women, and with expertise in using expressive media and bespoke technology to elicit voice, is ensuring the network is responsive to the needs of women by implementing a user-centered design approach. Thus far two iterations of texts have been sent to almost 700 women across the region. Each iteration is followed by surveys, interviews, and a reworking of the messages placing women’s voices, needs, and care at the heart of this initiative. Findings thus far indicate over 79% of those surveyed remembered feeling “Supported” when they read messages from FemSMS. Many also reported feeling informed, cared for, and in solidarity. By disseminating this sensitive, value-added trauma support, PK will create a sense of resilience and protection around those at risk.

Vlada Nedak, Executive Director of Project Kesher Ukraine, says, “Being on the ground in Ukraine I feel privileged to be able to ensure that the SMS messages speak to women where they are and in ways that are not intimidating while being accessible. This project is urgently needed to give women access to safe havens and ensure that they can turn to a trusted network in times of danger.”

Podcast on Hromadske Radio

Project Kesher Ukraine has launched a 24-episode podcast whose focus will be women’s mental and reproductive health during war. The show will build on Project Kesher’s longstanding relationship with Hromadske radio and presents critical information and resources to Ukrainians during the crisis, in a format that is compassionate, fact-based, trusted, and accessible to the public. Shows will be available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud, as well as on Hramadske’s website. The host of Hromadske Radio, Tatiana Troshchinskaya, is the only woman nominated in 2022 for the very prestigious Georgy Gongadze Prize, which supports journalists who are not afraid of challenges, are able to find innovative ways of conveying information, promote liberal reforms in Ukraine, open new opportunities for the media, are able to create sustainability in what they do, and remain true to professional principles.

In 2019 PKU piloted the first-ever women’s health podcast in Ukraine on Hromadske Public Radio, originally funded by Grand Challenges Canada. “The Truth about Women’s Health” became one of the top-producing podcasts on Ukrainian Public Radio and when COVID-19 lockdowns hit Ukraine, PKU was asked to return to the air with a new podcast, “Women’s Side of Pandemic”. With its own broadcasting network in the three regions, Kyiv, Donetsk, and Luhansk, Hromadske reaches about 150,000 listeners weekly and online (including the occupied territories), and has 450,000 page views per month. Hromadske is driven by its belief that freedom of speech is an unwavering human right. 

The first two episodes of the new show aired this week addressing two critical issues that Ukrainians face under war: Panic attacks and anxiety, and water and food insecurity.

Response to Sexual Assault

Project Kesher supported a trauma-informed initiative to reach Ukrainian women and girls in crisis with first aid rape kits. PK was first contacted a couple of months ago about the need for a first aid response to sexual assault in the conflict zones. 1,000 kits with Plan B have now been distributed in Ukraine and included sanitary pads, informational support pamphlets, and items such as wipes, ibuprofen, deodorant, and lip balm. The medication was purchased from Pfizer in Europe, and the rest of the contents of the kits were sourced and purchased in Ukraine, including self care products created by a woman entrepreneur in Bucha, Ukraine. PKU leaders have recently found that it is near impossible to get rape kits into conflict zones, where they are most needed right now. Moving forward, Project Kesher's reproductive care work will focus on distribution of hygiene products and reproductive medical supplies for women and pregnant people.