How Your Support Helped: UCSS Ottawa Supports Grief Recovery Program for Mothers in Ukraine
Following our recent fundraising efforts, we are grateful to share how the funds raised were used to support mothers in Ukraine who are living through profound loss.
With the financial support of Ukrainian Canadian Social Services (UCSS) – Ottawa Branch, a new session of the psychological and recreational grief support program “Source of Strength” began as part of the international Maple Hope Foundation initiative Heal a Mother’s Heart.
As shared by the program organizers, 12 mothers of fallen defenders from different regions of Ukraine arrived at the Franko-Hrazhda rehabilitation centre to take part in this program of professional support in grief.
This retreat was created to offer mothers a safe and compassionate space where they could receive emotional support, begin processing their grief, and find strength in the presence of others who understand the pain of losing a child to war. In times of devastating loss, being truly accompanied in grief matters deeply — and in this program, every detail was designed with care.
The program was facilitated by two experienced professionals: psychologist and art therapist Hanna Kisilishyna, who is originally from Mariupol and is herself the mother of fallen defender Oleksii Kisilishyn, and psychologist and bard Hanna Shevchenko from Kyiv. Through professional guidance, shared reflection, creative expression, and meaningful conversation, the mothers were supported in a space intended not only for mourning, but also for connection, rest, and healing.
The Facebook post describing the opening day reflects just how thoughtfully the retreat was organized. Participants were welcomed into a warm and supportive environment, and the day was filled with both structured and informal moments of togetherness. It concluded with a quiet creative evening by the fireplace, accompanied by guitar music and an original song performed by Hanna Shevchenko.
We are also grateful to those whose work helped make the program possible. Special thanks were extended in the post to Oksana Gurska for coordinating the program and supporting each participant from the very first phone call through to their arrival at the rehabilitation centre, despite the distance and time difference between Toronto and Kyiv. Appreciation was also expressed to Volodymyr Rozhnov for his support and for helping create a welcoming and comforting atmosphere.
For mothers who have lost their children, healing is not immediate, and grief does not disappear. But compassionate, professional, and community-centred support can help create moments of light in the darkness of loss. This program offered such a space — one where mothers could be heard, supported, and surrounded by people ready to walk alongside them in their sorrow.
We are honoured that the funds raised through our community’s generosity could help support this meaningful initiative. Thank you to everyone who contributed and made this possible.
Your support is helping bring comfort, dignity, and hope to mothers in Ukraine who need it most.
