Project
The European journalists network n-ost (Berlin), the Alfred Toepfer Foundation (Hamburg) and the Institute of Mass Information (Kyiv) offered a group of Ukrainian journalists a week-long trip to Germany where they had an opportunity to share and reflect their experiences during a full-scale war.
17 journalists from both national and regional Ukrainian media outlets were selected to participate in the retreat. Many of them had been working as war reporters and hailed from various regions, including Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mariupol, Kherson, and others.
The retreat took place at the seminar centre of Gut Siggen, nestled along the Baltic Sea coast in Heringsdorf, northern Germany. The location provided a secluded environment conducive to meaningful exchange.
The retreat program featured a combination of group and individual therapy sessions facilitated by experienced psychotherapists. Such support was vital for journalists, allowing them to address the emotional toll of their work and providing them with a much-needed break to recharge.
The retreat took place at the seminar centre of Gut Siggen, nestled along the Baltic Sea coast in Heringsdorf, northern Germany. The location provided a secluded environment conducive to meaningful exchange.
The retreat program featured a combination of group and individual therapy sessions facilitated by experienced psychotherapists. Such support was vital for journalists, allowing them to address the emotional toll of their work and providing them with a much-needed break to recharge.
The program offered a holistic approach to well-being, encompassing group and individual therapy sessions conducted by Ukrainian therapists. Beyond addressing their mental health, participants had the chance to assess their physical well-being and receive necessary medical treatments, contributing to their overall health and recovery.
Since the beginning of the war, I have been plagued by anxiety and stress. This retreat taught me how to deal with it. During one week, we could sleep peacefully, knowing that we were safe.
Olena Yermolenko, journalist of OstroV, Svoi.city, Evacuation.city, Vechir.media. Pokrovsk, Donetsk oblast
I went through the blockade of Mariupol, a risky evacuation from the occupied city, and a difficult rebuild of my life from scratch. I needed this vacation like a breath of oxygen.
Tetiana Pysarieva, channel TV7, Mariupol-Kyiv
Before the retreat, I thought there could be no rest during the war. But after the first day and a meeting with a psychotherapist, I realized how important it is for each of us.
Yevheniia Kytaieva, war correspondent at "Channel 5"
It seems that the feeling of exhaustion and burnout had reached its maximum. The retreat gave me the chance to return to my personal "normal". Contemplation of the sea, nights without air raid sirens and curfews, trainings, treatments — all this put me together like a LEGO set.
Olena Maksymenko, war correspondent at “Новинарня”, Donbas Frontliner, Local History
Check out all the participating journalists listed here. This is what brings them together.
See all network membersBurst your bubble and get our multi-perspective in your inbox!
A daily roundup of European media debates, available in English, German, French, Russian, and Turkish.
Each week, nine European newsrooms team up to bring you surprising and informative perspectives on the issues that move Europeans.
Weekly insights on the war against Ukraine discussed in European media, debunking disinformation, and spotlighting key narratives and voices from Ukraine.
A monthly newsletter with a heavy focus on a single topic that graps the attention of independent documentary photography from Eastern Europe.
A monthly selection of news, analysis, and content and art from queer creators from Central Asia, Eastern Europe and South Caucasus.
