The Batkivska Opora chatbot supports Ukrainian caregivers with evidence-based parenting, child protection, and mental health guidance amid the ongoing war.

On World Mental Health Day, MHPSS Advisor Mike Kirakossian calls for integrated, inclusive, and culturally rooted mental health and psychosocial support for children and communities living through emergencies in the Middle East and Eastern Europe region.

World Vision Middle East and Eastern Europe Regional Office (MEER) operates in some of the most complex and protracted crises globally, where long-standing conflicts and displacement intersect with persistent development challenges.

On WhatsApp and Telegram, the Parenting in Crisis Chatbot is being piloted to provide caregivers with psychological support and advice on child protection.

This press release conveys World Vision’s alert regarding the severe deterioration of the situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Recent clashes that led to the capture of Uvira, in South Kivu, by AFC/M23 rebels, a highly strategic town, have resulted in the deaths of many women and children, while triggering large-scale displacement towards Rwanda and Burundi. In a context where humanitarian actors are critically short of resources to meet urgent needs, this press release also serves as an urgent call for strengthened support to help save lives.

Particularly, children and adolescents already vulnerable to violence, displacement, climate change, and poverty, are at increased risk of psychological distress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems.

World Vision’s CHW Census 2025 report highlights feedback from 43 field offices on nearly 200,000 CHWs worldwide.

We cannot do it alone. Empowering local actors to lead the response, recovery, rehabilitation and development in their countries is a top priority, and building their capacity supports us to achieve our goals of ensuring every girl and boy has what they need to live a life in all its fullness. We partner with supporters, governments, local communities, faith leaders, civil society, faith-based organisations to support the needs of children and their families throughout the region