Help Us Help

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Today, Help Us Help stands with Ukraine, its people, and all Ukrainians around the world in celebrating Vyshyvanka Day, a day that honours the beauty, history, and spirit woven into one of the nation’s most iconic cultural symbols.

The vyshyvanka—a hand-stitched, symbolically embroidered garment—tells a story in every pattern, colour, and shape. Each region and family has its own style, carrying traditions and meaning passed down through generations.

Since its inception almost 35 years ago, the Help Us Help family has integrated Ukrainian language, traditions, and culture into its core programs. Today, this is more important than ever, as Ukraine and its people face ongoing attacks from a neighbour whose attempts to erase Ukrainian identity over centuries have become a daily reality.

We’d love to celebrate Vyshyvanka Day with you! Share your favourite vyshyvanka photo from any Help Us Help program in the comments, and tell us what your vyshyvanka means to you!

Let’s shine a light on the beauty of Ukrainian culture everywhere!💙💛

Photo Credit: Iryna Kolotylo, Albina and Kytsia-Mytsia at Help Us Help Summer Camp 2025

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Сьогодні Help Us Help разом з Україною та українцями по всьому світу відзначає День вишиванки — день, який вшановує красу, історію та дух, закладені в одному з найвідоміших символів української культури.

Вишиванка — це традиційний одяг із символічною вишивкою, де кожен візерунок, колір і форма розповідають власну історію. Кожен регіон і кожна родина мають свій унікальний стиль, що відображає традиції та значення, передані з покоління в покоління.

Від моменту свого заснування, майже 35 років тому, Help Us Help інтегрує українську мову, традиції та культуру у свої основні програми. Сьогодні це має особливе значення, коли Україна та її народ продовжують жити в умовах постійних атак з боку сусідньої держави, чиї багатовікові спроби знищити українську ідентичність стали частиною щоденної реальності.

Ми будемо раді відзначити День Вишиванки разом із вами! Поділіться у коментарях своїм улюбленим фото у вишиванці з будь-якої програми Help Us Help та розкажіть, що означає ваша вишиванка для вас.

Нехай краса української культури сяє всюди!💙💛

Фото: Ірина Колотило, Альбіна та Киця-Миця на Літньому таборі Help Us Help 2025

#деньвишиванки

Our first Watercolour Workshop was a resounding success!

Held on May 9, 2026, this initiative brought together supporters of Help Us Help for a day filled with inspiration and creativity, in which participants learned new painting and art techniques while contributing to a meaningful cause.

We extend our sincere thanks to our dedicated volunteer, Marta Kolotylo, a Ukrainian artist based in Toronto, who led the workshop!

Exciting news continues as we have three additional workshops scheduled! These upcoming sessions are perfect for anyone looking to meet new friends, have a great time, and discover unique watercolour techniques.

Attendees will create one-of-a-kind masterpieces while directly supporting Help Us Help’s Annual Summer Camp Experience 2026, which provides invaluable educational and trauma-informed programming for institutionalized and at-risk youth in Ukraine.

Each registration will make a difference in the lives of the children we serve.

Follow the link to sign up TODAY:
https://forms.gle/yKagzYyJDrsYJRdw8

Mental health matters.

This May, Help Us Help stands with communities across Canada in recognizing Mental Health Awareness Month.

Help Us Help is committed to raising awareness, reducing stigma, and strengthening access to mental health supports.

The ongoing war in Ukraine continues to place significant pressure on the mental health of children and youth. Exposure to violence, displacement, and loss disrupts emotional well-being—the ability to learn, build relationships, and plan for the future. According to research by the KSE Institute, 44% of children in Ukraine show signs of potential post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

At Help Us Help, supporting positive mental health is a central pillar of our mission.

Through the Scholars Program, licensed therapists provide ongoing psychosocial support, helping youth process their experiences, build emotional awareness, and develop healthy coping strategies in a safe and trusted environment.

This support continues year-round and is deeply integrated into our Summer and Winter Camps, where a trauma-informed, holistic approach is embedded in every activity—from group sessions and mentorship to creative expression and outdoor experiences. These moments create spaces where children can rebuild a sense of safety, belonging, and confidence.
We invite you to be part of this effort!

Your donation helps provide institutionalized and at-risk children affected by war with access to mental health care, stability, and the tools they need to build resilience and move forward.

Please donate through the link in our bio or by visiting our website at www.helpushelp.charity

Освітній проєкт «Стипендіат» - це про системну підтримку, яка дає молоді реальні інструменти для майбутнього.

Весняна зустріч об’єднала учасників навколо навчання, відповідальності та взаємопідтримки - середовища, яке продовжує працювати і після завершення програми.

Дякуємо партнерам і доброчинцям, які інвестують у розвиток молоді:
Хто нас підтримав🫰

- ТОВ «Eco-snack» надали смаколики для дітей

- Олександра Деркач провела екскурсію

- «Співбесіда для двох: як її пройти без додаткового стресу».
Карʼєрна консультантка МЦ «Резиденція молоді» Наталя Синюсик провела воркшоп.

- МЦ «Резиденція молоді» надали простір для проведення заходу

- Богдан Лукань, провів воркшоп «Фінансова грамотність по-дорослому. Закладаємо фундамент на шляху до фінансової незалежності та свободи».

Спонсори з Канади які передали подарунки дітками з Центру соціально-психологічної реабілітації дітей

• книги - Maryka Chabluk, Winnipeg, Manitoba
• піжами - Jean Truss, Mississauga, Ontario
• машинки - Mattel Canada, Mississauga, Ontario

ДЯКУЄМО!💙💛

Освітній проєкт «Стипендіат 2025–2026» реалізується Благодійною організацією Help Us Help (Канада) та МБФ «ГЕЛП АС ГЕЛП ЮА» у партнерстві з Temerty Foundation, Ihnatowycz Family Foundation, Canada-Ukraine Foundation та Hyworon Family Foundation.

On April 26, 1986, the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant had a catastrophic explosion, leading to widespread radioactive fallout that adversely affected millions of individuals across Ukraine and Europe. The long-term consequences of this disaster have been compounded in recent years by ongoing aggression from russia, which continues to disregard the fundamental rights and lives of innocent Ukrainians.

Help Us Help is dedicated to providing support for institutionalized and at-risk children through a framework that emphasizes trauma-informed care, mentorship, and restorative justice practices.

We invite you to join us in our mission to help Ukraine’s most vulnerable youth. Donations can be made through the link in our bio or directly at www.helpushelp.charity. Your support matters. Слава Україні!

Help Us Help proudly joins charities and organizations across Canada in celebrating National Volunteer Week! 🇨🇦

Under the theme of Ignite Volunteerism, we honor the passion, energy, and dedication of everyone who generously gives their time. Your commitment is essential to Help Us Help’s success.

For over thirty years, hundreds of dedicated Help Us Help volunteers have made our mission possible—as camp counsellors, workshop leaders, instructors, and through fundraising and humanitarian aid efforts. Their time, care, and motivation have made a real difference for children, veterans, and families in need in Ukraine. For children growing up in institutional care, this support helps create a sense of community, stability, and belonging—all essential for building self-confidence and independence.

Thank you for your continued generosity, friendship, and compassion in support of Ukraine’s future. We are deeply grateful for every moment you share with us.

Would you like to get involved? Please email us at [email protected]

We are always open to new volunteers and would be honoured to welcome you to the Help Us Help volunteer team.

If you know someone who would love to volunteer with us, please share this post 💙💛

Join Help Us Help this spring for a special series of creative workshops led by Toronto-based Ukrainian artist Marta Kolotylo🎨

Whether you are a beginner or simply looking to reconnect with your creativity, these welcoming sessions are designed for all skill levels.

Learn watercolour techniques, colour theory, and mixing techniques, and create your own landscape, still life, and botanical paintings in a relaxed and inspiring atmosphere.

Help Us Help Office
2445 Bloor Street West, Suite 201, Toronto

Saturdays: May 9, 23 & 30, June 6

Group 1 (Adults): 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Group 2 (Children ages 8–16): 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Why join?
All proceeds will support Help Us Help’s Summer Camp 2026 program for institutionalized and vulnerable children in Ukraine.

Your registration covers all art materials, as well as tea, coffee, and light refreshments!

4-Class Course: $170
Drop-In Class: $50

Register to secure your spot:
https://forms.gle/yKagzYyJDrsYJRdw8

For more information, please contact Iryna Kolotylo, Help Us Help Program Manager at [email protected]

About the artist:
Marta Kolotylo is a Ukrainian artist based in Toronto. With over 15 years of experience as an art instructor, she has exhibited internationally and published how-to-draw books for children. She is the founder of an online drawing school. Since 2013, she has been an active volunteer with Help Us Help, contributing as a photographer and art workshop leader during Summer and Winter Camps and community events.

Help Us Help is hiring for Summer 2026 🇺🇦💙🇨🇦

If you’re passionate about making a difference, this is your opportunity to support Ukrainian children while gaining meaningful, hands-on experience with our Team.

Through the Canada Summer Jobs program, we’re hiring for three exciting roles:
• Junior Project Administrator
• Social Media Coordinator
• Community Development Coordinator

These positions offer real-world experience in the non-profit sector. Whether you’re coordinating projects, creating content, or connecting with the community, you’ll be building practical skills while contributing to work that truly matters.

📍 Toronto, ON (in-person)
📅 Apply by: May 3, 2026

Eligibility requirements:
• Ages 15–30 at the start of employment period
• Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person
• Legally entitled to work in Canada

Ready to do work that matters this summer?

Visit the Careers section at www.helpushelp.charity to learn more and apply.

Today, on World Art Day, we want to emphasize the importance of art in supporting children in institutional care in Ukraine.

During the Help Us Help Summer Camp Experiences, creative workshops are an integral part of the program. Through art therapy, campers engage in creative activities that help them express themselves, providing a safe space to process emotions, rebuild confidence, and begin their healing journey.

Today, more than 60,000 children are living in residential institutions across Ukraine. Innocent children face immense hardships, including air raid sirens, frequent trips to bomb shelters, interrupted education, power outages, and long periods without heat or running water.

For more than 30 years, Help Us Help has been dedicated to supporting orphaned and vulnerable youth, helping them become confident, independent, and contributing members of their communities, all while preserving their Ukrainian identity, culture, and traditions.

Every child deserves safety, hope, and opportunity, and Help Us Help’s programs help make this possible. As we prepare for our 28th Annual Summer Camp Experience, we remain committed to creating a safe, nurturing space where children feel supported, can express themselves freely, and begin to heal.

We invite you to stand with the children of Ukraine. Donate TODAY!

Follow the link in our bio to contribute to the Summer Camp 2026 Experience or visit our website at: www.helpushelp.charity

🏕️🤸Think back to what summer camp meant to you: the friendships, the laughter, and the sense of belonging. Now imagine discovering that for the very first time!🚣‍♂️☀️

For institutionalized children in Ukraine, Help Us Help Educational Summer Camp Experiences provide a structured, trauma-informed environment where children can begin to heal and feel safe.

Our programs offer children from residential institutions a rare opportunity to step into a space where they are truly seen, supported, and valued. Many experience activities for the first time-such as hiking, swimming, and outdoor adventures that build confidence and spark curiosity, creativity, and learning.

Participants also connect with Ukrainian history, culture, and traditions while developing essential life skills. Just as importantly, they experience what it means to be part of a caring community-something that can have a lasting impact on their future.

Today, this work is more urgent than ever. As the ongoing war continues to affect and displace children across Ukraine, access to stable, supportive environments is critical for recovery and growth.

We are deeply grateful to all supporters and donors of Help Us Help. Your generosity makes these programs possible and helps us reach more children in need.

Join us for a Volunteer Information Night!

We’re looking for volunteers to support programs for children in Ukraine.

At this session, you’ll learn:
• What we do and who we support
• Upcoming volunteer opportunities
• How you can make an impact

📅 Thursday, April 16
🕕 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

📍 HUH Office
2445 Bloor St W, # 201
3-minute walk from Jane Station

Please register to save your spot:
https://forms.gle/7AEmxys8x4f4tKPh8

or email: [email protected]