Portugal Hosts Ukrainian Mothers and Children for Healing Retreat

Portugal is welcoming a group of Ukrainian mothers and children for a three-week retreat aimed at providing them with a sense of normalcy amid the ongoing conflict in their home country. This initiative, organized by the Ukrainian support organization HelpUA.PT, has been described by the Portuguese government as a “remarkable” civil society effort to assist those affected by the war.

The group, consisting of 15 Ukrainian mothers and 18 children, arrived at Lisbon airport shortly after 16:00 on Saturday. They are relatives of soldiers who have died or are currently missing in action. Upon arrival, they brought their luggage in hand, eager to embrace a brief period of peace away from the ravages of war.

HelpUA.PT is facilitating this program as part of the European Programme for Psychological and Cultural Support for Families at War. The initiative focuses on providing intensive psychological rehabilitation, cultural integration, and personal training, all supported by a team of Portuguese and Ukrainian psychologists, therapists, and volunteers.

Journey of Resilience

The journey for this group began in the Chernihivska region of northern Ukraine, close to the Russian border, where they faced the ongoing conflict. They traveled overland to Poland and then flew from Warsaw to Lisbon. The Vice President of HelpUA.PT, Ángelo Neto, explained the arduous journey: “It took 20 hours by bus. We only made it to the border because the Ukrainian military police escorted the bus and cleared the roads that were closed.”

During their time in Portugal, the children will engage in activities designed for rehabilitation and cultural integration. Rita Júdice, the Portuguese Minister of Justice, emphasized the importance of providing these children with an experience of normalcy. “Many of them, between the ages of six and fourteen, have no memory other than that of war,” she stated. “Being able to give them the experience of normality, where they can be children, where they can be mothers and grandmothers, will be what Portugal can do, at this stage, for this group.”

Support and Solidarity

Minister Júdice underscored that this initiative represents a commitment to justice and human rights. “Justice doesn’t end in the courts. It’s also lived out in the defense of human rights, in protecting the most vulnerable,” she remarked.

The ambassador of HelpUA.PT and former Social Democrat MP, Teresa Leal Coelho, accompanied the group and highlighted their bravery and resilience. “These families come from cities ravaged by war, yet they want to maintain a connection with their hometowns,” she stated. “These are people who don’t want to leave the region where they live; they continue with a normal life despite the war.”

The group was carefully selected by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, which aimed to include families from the most affected areas. Coelho noted, “Naturally, we can’t choose ourselves. The request from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence was to select families from regions most impacted by the war.”

For the duration of their stay, the children and their families will be accommodated at the Fénix Centre in Ourém, a facility known for its work with combatants and war-wounded individuals. After three weeks, they plan to return to their hometowns, where they hope to resume their lives. Coelho noted, “In other initiatives we’ve had, families expressed a desire to return to be with their loved ones.”

Ángelo Neto emphasized the significance of this project for the rehabilitation of these individuals. He expressed hope for future initiatives, stating, “We’re talking about almost a million mothers in vulnerable situations in Ukraine. This project started in the UK, which received 400 families during 2025, and I hope, on behalf of Portugal, that we will exceed 500.”

This initiative not only offers immediate support but also fosters a sense of hope and community among those affected by the conflict, reinforcing the importance of solidarity in times of crisis.