- DTCare in Ukraine | Staff Capacity Building -
Building Capacity in the People Who Carry the Work Forward
At DTCare, our work begins with people.
Dedicated staff, volunteers, and partners make every shipment, program, art therapy session, and act of care possible for communities facing extraordinary hardship. Because of this, we believe capacity building is not only about strengthening programs—it is about investing in the people who make healing, dignity, and hope possible.
Across Ukraine and beyond, DTCare continues to support employee development, professional learning, team connection, and trauma-informed practice. These efforts help our staff and partners grow in confidence, strengthen their skills, and continue serving children, families, veterans, and frontline communities with compassion and care.
Down to the Numbers
- 139
- English sessions delivered
- 17
- art therapists participated
- 3
- parallel learning groups
- 20
- B.R.A.V.E. 1 training participants
- 100%
- reported stronger belonging
Why Staff Capacity Building Matters
The people who serve others also need support.
Many DTCare team members and partners work in deeply challenging environments. They support individuals and families affected by war, displacement, loss, trauma, and uncertainty. Their work requires professional skill, emotional resilience, and a strong sense of connection to one another.
DTCare’s capacity-building efforts are designed to help staff and partners:
Strengthen professional communication skills.
Access international mental health and psychosocial support resources.
Build confidence in trauma-informed and experiential approaches.
Prevent burnout and support emotional wellbeing.
Deepen team connection across cities and regions.
Share knowledge with colleagues and partner organizations.
Grow as leaders within their fields.
This work reflects one of DTCare’s core beliefs: when we care for the people providing support, we strengthen the care they can give.
- Staff Development | Art Therapy Team -
English Language Learning for Art Therapy Staff
From January through June 2026, DTCare Charitable Foundation organized an English language learning program for art therapists across Ukraine. Three groups ran in parallel, delivering 139 sessions to 17 art therapists.
The program strengthened professional communication skills, improved access to international MHPSS resources, and supported staff engagement and retention. Classes were held online, allowing art therapists from different cities to participate consistently while remaining connected to their local work. Engagement grew over time — Group 2 increased from 4 sessions in January to 9 in June.
Program Highlights
100% of participants reported a stronger sense of belonging to DTCare
90% of participants reported feeling more connected to colleagues from other cities
78% of participants reported feeling more connected to the team after the course
100% of participants reported a positive psychosocial impact overall
The classes focused on language skills directly connected to the therapists’ professional roles, including vocabulary and communication related to trauma-informed care, psychosocial support, safeguarding, emotional regulation, and resilience.
Just as importantly, the program created a meaningful space for connection. For a geographically dispersed team, the online learning groups offered a supportive routine and a shared environment outside of daily operational work.
As one participant shared:
When I read academic articles in English, I can now understand the main ideas without a translator. That feels significant.
Another art therapist reflected:
The course materials were well-structured. I feel that DTCare invests in us — and that matters.
For DTCare, this kind of feedback is deeply meaningful. It shows that staff development is not only about technical learning. It is also about belonging, encouragement, and helping team members feel seen and supported.
Explore the art therapy programs this training supports.
Supporting Professional Growth and Team Wellbeing
The English language program also had a clear psycho-emotional impact.
Participants reported increased confidence, reduced fear of making language mistakes, and a stronger sense of connection to the wider DTCare team. Several participants shared that the learning process itself created a positive routine during a period of sustained professional stress.
Survey results showed:
7 therapists experienced strong positive psychosocial impact
6 therapists experienced moderate and growing impact
4 therapists experienced emerging positive change with clear potential for continued growth
Psychosocial impact — all 17 participants
- 7 strong positive impact
- 6 moderate and growing
- 4 emerging positive change
These results remind us that capacity building can strengthen both professional skill and emotional resilience. When staff feel more confident, more connected, and more supported, they are better equipped to continue offering compassionate care to others.
- Hero’s Compass | Veteran Support -
B.R.A.V.E. Training for Hero’s Compass Facilitators
How can we help veterans navigate the transition from military service to civilian life? One important tool is B.R.A.V.E. (Building Resilience and Adventure for Veterans Empowerment), which has become an integral part of DTCare’s Hero’s Compass program. Grounded in adventure-based counseling and resilience development, B.R.A.V.E. prepares the veterans, program managers, and art therapists who facilitate Hero’s Compass to lead this work.
The first B.R.A.V.E. program took place in early 2025. That year, the team conducted 19 in-person sessions, and participants from the first program went on to mentor new facilitators. In 2026, the training followed a multi-stage format designed to build trust, strengthen experienced facilitators, and prepare a new team to work with veteran communities.
It began with an online preparatory stage of four sessions, followed by B.R.A.V.E. 2, an advanced in-person training for experienced team members. In March, B.R.A.V.E. 1 took place in Truskavets, bringing together 20 participants — a new team of facilitators drawn from the 2025 Hero’s Compass program, along with representatives of partner programs. Rather than simply learning about tools like the Full Value Contract and Challenge by Choice, participants experienced each stage of the T4 model — Trust, Try, Transform, Transition — themselves, through a ropes course, interactive games, personal storytelling, and structured debriefing.
Key Results from B.R.A.V.E. 1
Participants gave the training consistently high evaluations for its methodological clarity, practical approach, and relevance to veterans’ lives
Participants reported increased psychological resilience, emotional awareness, and communication skills
Participants gained greater confidence in facilitating groups and supporting others
A new team of facilitators was formed, equipped to begin leading activities for veteran communities
The facilitation, grounded in practical experience, created an environment of mutual support and acceptance — especially important given the life experiences of participants connected to Hero’s Compass. Participants also described a stronger sense of belonging and connection with people who share similar experiences, and readiness to apply B.R.A.V.E. approaches in veteran-focused programs and community initiatives.
Together, the stages of B.R.A.V.E. in 2026 created a pathway from preparation and trust-building to advanced learning and the development of a new generation of facilitators — a strong foundation for expanding this methodology across programs that support veterans and those close to them.
- Hero’s Compass | Team Development -
Hero’s Compass Team Building
The Hero’s Compass team is not just about working together — it is also about trust, support, and team spirit. At the end of August, the team finally stepped away from the online format and came together in person for a team-building event.
It was a wonderful opportunity to spend time together, get to know each other better, share experiences, and recharge for the work ahead. It also gave the team a firsthand chance to experience what Hero’s Compass participants go through. Throughout the week, the team took part in a variety of activities that strengthened teamwork and deepened their understanding of participants’ experiences.
A special part of the event was a first-aid training session led by the Ukrainian Red Cross Society, where the team practiced essential skills for critical situations. For facilitators, it was also a chance to test out new exercises — this time as participants themselves — gaining firsthand experience and valuable feedback from colleagues that will help make Hero’s Compass sessions even more effective.
What the Team Gained
Stronger teamwork and better communication
Practical first-aid skills from the Ukrainian Red Cross Society
A firsthand understanding of the Hero’s Compass participant experience
Refined facilitation tools and plenty of energy for new projects
As a result, the team gained not only new impressions and experiences, but a stronger foundation for the work ahead. A strong team starts with caring for and supporting one another.
Growing Leadership Through Experiential Education
DTCare is also proud to recognize the professional leadership of Dimitry Terpylo, who manages DTCare’s Veteran’s Hero’s Compass program in Ukraine.
Dimitry has been selected as a 2026 ActivatEE Speaker for the Association for Experiential Education’s 2026 Experiential Education Conference, taking place November 12–14, 2026, at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado.
ActivatEE is AEE’s TED-style storytelling event and one of the conference’s most anticipated gatherings. Dimitry’s selection reflects the growing recognition of DTCare’s work in experiential education, veteran support, and trauma-informed programming in Ukraine.
For DTCare, this is more than an individual honor. It is a meaningful example of how investing in staff leadership strengthens the entire organization. When team members have opportunities to share their experience, learn from others, and participate in international professional communities, that knowledge returns to the programs and people we serve.
Capacity Building That Strengthens Care
DTCare’s staff development and training efforts share a purpose: to empower the people who strengthen communities. Whether through English language learning for art therapists, B.R.A.V.E. training for Hero’s Compass facilitators, or international leadership opportunities in experiential education, each initiative helps build a stronger foundation of care.
These programs support:
Better access to global best practices
Stronger trauma-informed and psychosocial support skills
Greater staff confidence and retention
Healthier team connection across distance
Expanded leadership within DTCare and partner networks
More sustainable support for veterans, service members, children, and families
Capacity building is not separate from DTCare’s mission. It is part of how the mission grows.
Investing in People, Strengthening Communities
We are grateful for every staff member, volunteer, donor, and partner who helps make this work possible.
By investing in the professional growth and wellbeing of our team, DTCare can serve with greater care, skill, and resilience. These investments help ensure that those offering support are also supported — and that communities affected by war and hardship continue to receive compassionate, dignified, and meaningful care.
Together, we are building capacity not only for today’s needs, but for the long road of healing ahead.