16-year-old Viktoria shares her story: “Over the years with ACET, I can confidently say that I have become a new person, I have radically changed my life. I began to take care of my younger sister (she is 12). She and I became real friends - we used to hate each other. I help her get through difficult situations, take her to the ACET club. Thanks to ACET, I know a lot about adolescence and understand exactly how to help my sister, how to communicate with her. Although I am only 16, I feel like her mother.
I'm still trying to improve my relationship with my mother. She began to drink after the death of our father and now spends her time with friends drinking and spends very little time with us. But I learned to forgive her, to support her. I believe that it will also change.
ACET is not just a training or a club, it is my family. I have now trained as an ACET trainer. I am very happy that I can help other teenagers: I want to help children protect their lives.”
Although the possibility of a peace deal with Russia seems more distant than ever, the amazing life-changing work of ACET Ukraine is still ongoing across 14 regions. They are even continuing to run programmes in 3 cities in Germany and the Netherlands. for children who have fled the war.
ACET Ukraine currently has 341 active volunteers, including those who are working in areas of occupation and those who are refugees abroad.
ACET’s ‘University of Healthy Youth’ programme includes topics about respect, love, cybersecurity, relationships with those closest to us, and appreciating life. These sessions are at times held in bomb shelters and often against the backdrop of air raid sirens.
Fantastically, the team reached 5,862 young people in 91 educational institutions, in the first half of this academic year.
Also amazingly in these difficult times, ACET Ukraine is managing to run 7 youth clubs, helping 410 young people with teaching and support. One club is in the frontline city of Zaporizhzhia and uses playing football as a team to create a place where young people can experience comfort, hope, and security.
ACET Ukraine also runs a club for mothers, to share ACET values, and provide information and assistance to families. This club takes place in Berdychiv and has become a place of faith and support for mothers who have been through so much.