Ukrainian Women's SMS Network

Project Kesher Ukraine is partnering with Footage, Ukraine Now, and Verb, to design, test, and launch a compassionate women’s SMS communications network. With generous seed funding from Project Kesher, this initiative aims to share compassionate, trauma-informed messages via SMS to Ukrainian women regarding their wellbeing, mental health, and safety. In a country where 98% of all text messages are opened, this program will lay the groundwork to prevent and address trafficking, and gender-based violence. The messaging network will provide a space of solace while simultaneously conveying needed information and resources for women inside of Ukraine, especially in the hardest to reach areas. Ukrainian women’s voices and cultural contexts sit at the heart of this communications initiative, and so rapid research testing around compassionate and trauma-informed messaging is being conducted for 100 women in early May 2022. Feedback gained will be integrated into messages sent to a minimum 1000 women in the first phase. Incorporating best practices in feminist research and user-centered design, the sms network has the potential to be a tremendous, gender-responsive asset to strategic communications initiatives in Ukraine and border regions.
Additional funding is needed for this program. For more information, email projectkesher@projectkesher.org