In June, Olena Kopina, Education Programs Expert at Dialogue in Action, facilitated her author-designed training, “Defender at Home,” for communities in Zaporizhzhia and Dnipro. The training was organised in response to a request from Svitlana Shevchenko, a participant in the certificate programme “Community Building and Effective Engagement.” More than 30 participants attended, including members of church communities, relatives of military personnel, and others whose lives are directly shaped by the experience of war.
On June 1-2, the training was held at the multifunctional shelter space “Nezlamnyi Hub” for the Church of Christ community in Zaporizhzhia. Fifteen participants attended, many of whom were mothers and wives of military personnel. On June 3-4, the training continued at the Church of Christ in Dnipro, bringing together 18 participants.
At first glance, the question that brings people to the training seems straightforward: How do you communicate with someone who has returned from war? In reality, this question encompasses fears, uncertainty, prejudice, and a lack of understanding about how to support a loved one without causing further harm.
The “Defender at Home” training approaches veteran reintegration as a shared responsibility that extends beyond the state and social services to communities, churches, workplaces, and families. At its core is the understanding that veterans return with a need for recognition, dignity, and a sense of belonging. For this reason, the surrounding community can become either a source of support or an additional barrier on the path back to civilian life.
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The training programme covers several key areas, including the psychology of military personnel, the nature of PTSD, addressing stereotypes, and methods of constructive conflict resolution. The methodology is based on David Kolb’s experiential learning model, in which participants not only receive information but also process it through personal experience, reflection, and practical application.
The “Defender at Home” training was developed by Olena Kopina in 2023 in response to requests from church communities, civil society organisations, social service providers, and educational institutions. Since then, more than 20 trainings have been conducted across different regions of Ukraine. Participants have included military families, veterans, social workers, psychologists, educators, faith leaders, and community activists.
Olena Kopina is also the author of the practical guide “Defender at Home,” which is available online.
“All of the topics covered during the training were highly relevant to our everyday lives. Olena managed the programme exceptionally well, making the learning process engaging, comfortable, and free from fatigue,” shared a participant from the Zaporizhzhia training.
The Dialogue in Action team is grateful to the Church of Christ communities in Zaporizhzhia and Dnipro for their openness and engagement, to Svitlana Shevchenko for initiating this opportunity, and to the Robert Bosch Foundation for supporting the implementation of this training through the “Community Building and Effective Engagement” programme.
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