A series of webinars on child safety at school: wrapping up

As part of the ‘HOVORY’ project, the UCU Child Dignity Centre, in partnership with the Department of Education and Culture of Lviv City Council, organised a series of three webinars for those responsible for safety in schools.

Together with leading psychotherapists, participants explored complex and practically relevant topics — ranging from recognising abuse to dealing with aggression in children. These sessions provided a vital space for support, bringing together numerous professionals from across the city who work day in, day out to safeguard the psychological well-being and safety of our children.

The idea behind this training did not come about by chance, as since last September, all schools in Lviv have introduced the role of a ‘safety officer’ – a position of vital importance. This is the person to whom pupils can turn in any threatening situation, whether to confide in them personally or to send a message for help via the ‘HOVORY’ button. To support these professionals and equip them with effective, practical tools, the organisers have set up a series of training sessions.

The first session focused on how to recognise the early, sometimes subtle signs of abuse and how to sensitively conduct an initial conversation with a child who has been affected. The second webinar explored the topic of a trauma-informed approach to working with children, helping participants to understand what experiences might lie behind a child’s challenging behaviour. At the final session, participants discussed working with children who perpetrate violence, as they too require special support, combined with clear guidance on responsibility.

According to Olesia Mandziuk, Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Culture of Lviv City Council, the appointment of safety officers is a significant step towards creating a safe school environment where every pupil feels protected: “These webinars have helped our specialists to establish clear protocols for dealing with the most challenging situations. We are investing in the knowledge of the people who ensure safety in schools every day.”

Nataliia Tarnovska, head of projects and programs in the Education direction at the UCU Child Dignity Centre, adds that the main aim was to teach adults to look beyond a child’s outward, sometimes challenging behaviour: "We discussed how to recognise, through a child’s behaviour, their feelings and their need for support. When an adult nearby is able to notice this and listen to the child, trust begins to develop between them. And where there is trust, a conversation can begin about what is troubling the child. This is precisely how a culture of safety is gradually built within the school.”

The participants say that the webinars have become for them not merely a presentation of theory, but a genuine practical guide. The teachers expressed their sincere gratitude for the experts’ high level of professionalism and for the opportunity to share real-life experiences with colleagues, analyse real-world case studies and learn how to interact sensitively with teenagers in crisis situations.

Today, this knowledge is becoming accessible to anyone who wishes to understand children better. All three webinars featuring Yuliana Maslak, Anastasia Shirokaya and Maria Dubinina are now available to viewers on the Centre’s YouTube channel. They will serve as a valuable resource for teachers, school psychologists and, of course, parents who wish to be a source of support for their children.