our work

our methods

Support and  assistance

Novi works in war-torn communities where children are deprived of basic needs for positive development, such as safety, education, and nutrition. They are also exposed to violence, loss, displacement, and all the disruptions created by war. These factors often lead to emotional trauma, affecting mental health and development from all ages into adulthood.

Child Needs in Crisis

After decades of working with refugees and conflict-affected communities, our team knows that for children to thrive in dire circumstances, they need a community, emotional support, nutritious food, and access to education. Meeting these needs helps children sustain healthy lives. All of our interventions are part of meeting these four primary needs.

Tools for Trauma Healing

Our tools have been created by psychologists, social workers, and team members to help children and adolescents heal and grow after war and trauma by developing self-regulation skills. Structured adult-led interventions in small, age-appropriate groups foster cooperation and mutual support.

Sustainable Impact Through Local Collaboration

We prioritize sustainability by collaborating with local organizations to build partnerships that focus on prevention and intervention for vulnerable children.

We have a multiplication strategy that equips, coaches, and supports workers to train others in all interventions, making a lasting and expanding impact in the communities we serve.

Activities that  develop emotional regulation and resilience

Novi Life Kits

We created the Novi Life Kits to help children in high-stress areas who are affected by war and conflict. These game-oriented, non-digital backpacks contain self-regulation tools (toys) and a dice-based mechanism to tailor activities to their age and state. The enclosed booklet guides children in attention-based, physical, and interactive play, helping to relieve stress and build skills through positive activities.

helping hands

Helping Hands is a play-oriented group intervention for children aged 5-18, divided into four 45-minute parts. Each group of 3-4 children has an informed leader for safety, support, and encouragement. The last part is focused on parents, with children sharing their work and feelings. Goals include having fun, learning about emotions and regulation, and sharing with parents. The program is adaptable for special needs and can be used in multiple sessions, with a focus on regulation, triggers, coping, and processing.

tree of life

The Tree of Life is a creative approach for working with young people who have experienced hardship. It uses the metaphor of a tree to focus on skills, hopes, and dreams for the future. The approach was first published by Anne Hope and Sally Timmel in 1984, and an adapted version was co-developed by Ncazelo Ncube and David Denborough for children living in war zones. Working with one or several groups at a time, each with a facilitator, the participants draw their own Tree of Life and share their stories with the group.

Young Peace Builders

We establish Young Peace Bulders Clubs to help war-affected adolescents aged 12-16 regain their sense of empowerment by teaching them practical skills such as budgeting, problem-solving, and leadership. These student-led groups promote peace in their lives and communities, and empower them to create a more peaceful future by starting now with service projects and initiatives aimed at building harmony between communities instead of division.

program Jacaranda

The Jacaranda program is a compassionate and culturally adaptive intervention for children affected by war, armed conflict, and chronic trauma. Child-centered small group interventions use storytelling and healing play, and are facilitated by trauma-informed local workers who receive specialized training and coaching.

Equipping

We provide specialized training and tools to Volunteers, social workers, teachers, therapists, and others who work with children in war torn communities and high-stress environments.

education

We provide specialized training and tools to Volunteers, social workers, teachers, therapists, and others who work with children in war torn communities and high-stress environments.

nutrition

We provide specialized training and tools to Volunteers, social workers, teachers, therapists, and others who work with children in war torn communities and high-stress environments.

belonging

We provide specialized training and tools to Volunteers, social workers, teachers, therapists, and others who work with children in war torn communities and high-stress environments.

Our methods

Here’s how we help them

Novi Life Kits

We created the Novi Life Kits to help children in high-stress areas who are affected by war and conflict. These game-oriented, non-digital backpacks contain self-regulation tools (toys) and a dice-based mechanism to tailor activities to their age and state. The enclosed booklet guides children in attention-based, physical, and interactive play, helping to relieve stress and build skills through positive activities.

Tap

Helping Hands

Helping Hands is a play-oriented group intervention for children aged 5-18, divided into four 45-minute parts. Each group of 3-4 children has an informed leader for safety, support, and encouragement. The last part is focused on parents, with children sharing their work and feelings. Goals include having fun, learning about emotions and regulation, and sharing with parents. The program is adaptable for special needs and can be used in multiple sessions, with a focus on regulation, triggers, coping, and processing.

Tap

Tree of life

The Tree of Life is a creative approach for working with young people who have experienced hardship. It uses the metaphor of a tree to focus on skills, hopes, and dreams for the future. The approach was first published by Anne Hope and Sally Timmel in 1984, and an adapted version was co-developed by Ncazelo Ncube and David Denborough for children living in war zones. Working with one or several groups at a time, each with a facilitator, the participants draw their own Tree of Life and share their stories with the group.

Tap

Young Peace Builders

We establish Young Peace Bulders Clubs to help war-affected adolescents aged 12-16 regain their sense of empowerment by teaching them practical skills such as budgeting, problem-solving, and leadership. These student-led groups promote peace in their lives and communities, and empower them to create a more peaceful future by starting now with service projects and initiatives aimed at building harmony between communities instead of division.

Tap

program Jacaranda

The Jacaranda program is a compassionate and culturally adaptive intervention for children affected by war, armed conflict, and chronic trauma. Child-centered small group interventions use storytelling and healing play, and are facilitated by trauma-informed local workers who receive specialized training and coaching.

Tap

Programs of  school development

Trauma Informed teacher training

For children impacted by war and extreme stress, education can become challenging and their behavior may be perceived as difficult. Educating teachers in trauma-informed care (TIC) can help support children's ability to benefit from education. TIC is built on three pillars: Relationship/Presence, Safety, and Affect-Regulation, and training is based on neurobiology and focuses on helping children cope with emotional dysregulation. The training emphasizes the "window of tolerance" as a key tool.

Schools

For children impacted by war and extreme stress, education can become challenging and their behavior may be perceived as difficult. Educating teachers in trauma-informed care (TIC) can help support children's ability to benefit from education. TIC is built on three pillars: Relationship/Presence, Safety, and Affect-Regulation, and training is based on neurobiology and focuses on helping children cope with emotional dysregulation. The training emphasizes the "window of tolerance" as a key tool.

Equipping

We provide specialized training and tools to Volunteers, social workers, teachers, therapists, and others who work with children in war torn communities and high-stress environments.

education

We provide specialized training and tools to Volunteers, social workers, teachers, therapists, and others who work with children in war torn communities and high-stress environments.

nutrition

We provide specialized training and tools to Volunteers, social workers, teachers, therapists, and others who work with children in war torn communities and high-stress environments.

belonging

We provide specialized training and tools to Volunteers, social workers, teachers, therapists, and others who work with children in war torn communities and high-stress environments.

Our methods

Here’s how we help them

Trauma Informed teacher training

For children impacted by war and extreme stress, education can become challenging and their behavior may be perceived as difficult. Educating teachers in trauma-informed care (TIC) can help support children's ability to benefit from education. TIC is built on three pillars: Relationship/Presence, Safety, and Affect-Regulation, and training is based on neurobiology and focuses on helping children cope with emotional dysregulation. The training emphasizes the "window of tolerance" as a key tool.

Tap

Schools

We provide specialized training and tools to Volunteers, social workers, teachers, therapists, and others who work with children in war torn communities and high-stress environments.

Tap

Additional  activities

Nutritious food

In war-torn communities, hunger robs many children of the chance to grow up healthy and strong. At Novi, we believe that no child should suffer from malnutrition, which can have lifelong consequences. That's why we're dedicated to providing healthy meals for children and families, so that they can thrive physically and emotionally. With proper nutrition, children have the foundation they need to reach their full potential.

Community events

Novi organizes sports, theater, and social events to bring together communities affected by war and conflict. This strengthens the bond between families, safe adults, and social networks, reducing the risk of mental disorders and promoting healthy social functioning. Belonging is key to reducing the negative effects of war on children.

maryna, 9 Years

She lives in the rubble left after the Russian Army has rolled through her village, destroying what they can. The rumble of explosions can be heard close by. Another missile fired. Another bomb exploded. The sound of explosions is so common she doesn’t flicker. Next time the missile might hit closer. Maybe it will hit her. The missiles fired often hit children. They care not that they kill the innocents. She looks at me and her entire being says to me: “I am here. What are you going to do about it?”

Novi is dedicated to helping children like Marina, who we met in a formerly Russian occupied city in 2023.

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yulia, 8 Years

The floors of her home are littered with trash, the uninsulated windows have let the cold inside the room, the smell is not of home-cooking, but of soiled diapers, unwashed dishes, blankets reeking of mildew and empty liquor bottles. Adding to this sad picture, is the sound of constant air sirens, the blaring alarm that penetrates sleep and shatters any kind of quiet.The Russian enemy is close, the alarm screams. Go into hiding!

Yulia felt scared, cold and hungry. But there was light. Yulia was found by our partners who invited her in to a community center supported by Novi. Here was a welcoming place run by motivated and caring adults who fed her, listened to her and introduced her to other children. Yulia feels warm when she is at the community center. This is not just because the generator runs, warming the place. It is also because she feels safe and loved.

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denys, 10 Years

He comes running towards us, embraces us and said he has missed us. He speaks almost fluent English and wants to show us his latest accomplishment on the computer game he has been playing. Ten-year-old Denys lives in a temporary shelter close to Kyiv. Here he lives with his mom, his little sister and about 70 other refugees in temporary housing. The days are dull. The space is crammed. The food they eat is bland. Denys struggles with depression says our staff member who goes to visit him as often as he can. He misses his friends, his home, his school, and the freedom he had to move around outside.

A bomb exploded close to Denys’ home in the East of Ukraine. The shrapnel flew close to his head. It was after hiding in their basement for a week that his mother decided she needed to take the children to a safer place, away from the bombs. Denys feels happy when he can play with others. He comes alive when Novi staff spend time with him and he engages in the activities of emotional regulation he’s learning to employ.

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petro, 12 Years

The other children try to ignore him, but he won’t let them. His voice is forceful, just like his large body. He is 12, restless and loud. If the other kids are playing well, his tendency is to disrupt them, push, destroy or take their toys. He is an orphan, living with 60 other children in an orphanage. Since coming here, he has learned that the only way to get attention is to be a rowdy bully. So, he is often alone. The other children don’t want to play with him. He makes the caregivers exasperated.

But inside the rough exterior is a soft and kind little boy who just wants to be loved and accepted. When Novi staff approaches him with kind and patient words, he softens. Soon he wants to hold hands. Stand close, show his phone, his silly drawing and how he can do a somersault. He sits with one of the adults who have been trained in trauma and stress intervention. Between them is a bag of toys. He empties the bag and through the toys he tells her his story. It is a sad story, but hopeful too, because as he tells it, he learns to regulate and reconcile with his strong emotions.

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faq

Are my donations tax deductible?

Yes. Novi is a registered 501(c)3 public charity. Donations are tax deductible for American taxpayers.

How much of my donation is used for administrative expenses?

Currently 93% of all donations go directly to programs and 7% is spent on administrative expenses and fundraising.

What does Novi mean?

Novi is a Latin adjective that means "new." War may destroy countless things, and we believe that with appropriate support, children in war-torn communities are capable of building new and beautiful futures. Helping to nurture new life out of war is what we do.

Does Novi only work in Ukraine?

After 30 years working on multiple war zones in the world, our team chose Ukraine as the starting point of our new focus on children’s mental health. As soon as our programs are sustainable we will begin to establish similar programs to restore childhoods disrupted by war in countries our staff has worked in previously. Our goal is to help all children who are surviving the violence and destitution of war. Ukraine is our starting point for this massive goal to help 450 million children currently living in war zones.

Contact us

Write to us and get more information

Thank you for your interest in our organization. If you have questions or inquiries, please send us a message and we will respond.

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