Dialogue for Understanding e.V.

Every child deserves a safe space to heal, laugh, and dream—whether at home or far away from it. 🧸✨

Happy International Children’s Day! Today, we celebrate the boundless joy and incredible resilience of children everywhere. But as we celebrate, our hearts and efforts are focused on the millions of Ukrainian children whose childhoods have been abruptly disrupted by war and displacement. 💛💙

At Dialogue for Understanding, we believe that protecting childhood and healing psychological wounds requires a continuous safety net - both on the ground and across borders. That is why our targeted projects support young Ukrainians wherever they need it most:
📍 In Ukraine: Trauma Pedagogy for Ukrainian Schools: We operate directly on the ground, equipping local educators and professionals with vital mental health tools to guide children through the deep psychological trauma of war.
📍 In Berlin: Space for Childhood: We provide a warm, secure haven specifically for Ukrainian refugee children who have fled to Germany. It’s a dedicated space where they can process their experiences, play freely, and simply enjoy being children again. 🕊️🌿

Investing in the mental well-being and safety of these children today is how we build a peaceful, resilient tomorrow.

How is your local community or organization supporting refugee children and young families today? What’s your view on the best ways to provide psychological comfort to displaced youth? Share your thoughts below, or tag a friend who is doing amazing work for children! 👇

Check out the comments section below for the links to discover more about these projects!

📰 Reporting Under Fire: How Myanmar’s Mizzima Defies Surveillance

Exile journalism has become a defining feature of today’s global media landscape. Since the 2021 military coup, independent voices in Myanmar have faced severe repression and violent conflict. In a powerful new interview, our colleague Angelina Davydova speaks with Soe Myint, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Mizzima, about how their newsroom navigates safety, ethics, and financial survival. 🇲🇲

Operating under a unique “one-foot-in, one-foot-out” cross-border model, Mizzima balances clandestine reporting inside the country with administrative hubs abroad. From managing extreme safety risks to inventing creative revenue streams—like importing coffee to Europe to stay sustainable—their journey is a masterclass in resilience and innovation for independent media worldwide. 💪🌱

What keeps Soe Myint hopeful after decades of struggle? The incredible energy of the younger generation. As he beautifully puts it: "The human being wants to be liberated. It is natural justice at the end of the day... People are fighting and that is the hope." 🌟

How can global civil society better stand in solidarity with journalists operating from underground and exile? What's your view? Let us know in the comments below! 👇

🔗 Read the full inspiring interview via the link in the comments!

Looking Back & Moving Forward: Our 2026 General Assembly! ✨

Yesterday we gathered in Berlin for our annual General Assembly to celebrate an incredible 2025 of impact and outline our upcoming journey!💛
From providing vital trauma pedagogy training to thousands of educators and children in Ukraine, to driving sustainable environmental solutions in Armenia, our projects are creating real, lasting change. During the assembly, we officially approved our past annual balance, granted discharge to the board, and established clear compliance frameworks for our team's operational project work. 🚀

And the future looks even brighter! We are thrilled to launch new initiatives this year, including 'The Great Divide' for civic education in exile, 'MemAct' for critical memory culture in Eastern Europe, 'Common Ground' for dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the continuation of our 'She Can' women's empowerment project. Plus, we have officially moved into our brand-new office at the Haus der Demokratie in Berlin! 🏢🌱

None of this would be possible without our dedicated members, partners, and civil society network. We are so grateful to grow this community together with you! 🥰

What areas of civil society work or regional empowerment are closest to your heart right now? Tell us in the comments below, or tag a fellow changemaker who inspires you! 👇