Vilnius - The International Organization for Migration (IOM Lithuania), Migration Information and Integration Center “MiCenter”  have integrated canine therapy sessions to offer  comfort and support to children adjusting to life in Lithuania after fleeing war in Ukraine.

For Eva, a fourth-grader from Vinnytsia, a once thriving city located 260 kms from Kiev, bonding with  the gentle labrador, Moka, has brought her one step closer in overcoming her fear of dogs and the hope of one day having a furry friend of her own.

Eva arrived in Lithuania with her mother Tetiana and brother, in March 2022, leaving behind the comfortable and peaceful  life they had taken for granted until war came to their doorstep.  "When we left our city, our home, we thought that we would be able to return  in a matter of weeks.

“We wearily travelled hundreds of kilometers through Moldova and Poland. Despite our unwavering hope that the war might end soon, we soon realized that this dream was fading into dust. After a year in Utena, a little city in Lithuania, we arrived  in  Vilnius so that my children could continue their studies in safety,” Tetiana explains.

"We were able to  rent a flat in Vilnius, and Eva was excited about having a dog as part of the family but there was an exclusion on having pets so attending these canine sessions became a lifeline for my daughter, says Tetiana joyfully.

The power of canine therapy lies in the unique bond between humans and dogs, helping children  heal and adapt to  their new and unfamiliar surroundings. Eva’s mother has noticed that after each therapy session her daughter’s anxiety decreases and is hoping someday to make Eva’s dream a reality. "Dogs are not just companions—they’re four-legged therapists, intuitive enough to pick up on emotions and flexible enough to adapt to different needs,” explains Joana Grygutis, a child psychologist and canine therapist who leads the classes with an enthusiastic Moka.

Therapy dogs such as  Moka go through over a year of intensive training and socialization to prepare them for their role as dog therapists. Only dogs that pass the rigorous programme and show a strong desire to connect with people are chosen for their new careers..

Sessions at MiCenter are not  only about interacting with dogs—they are  structured to empower empathy, patience, and communication skills for these traumatized kids. Children engage in creative tasks, learn to communicate respectfully with Moka and each other, and even manage to pick up a few Lithuanian phrases. "Life has been a whirlwind of emotions for these Ukrainian children. They’ve had to leave their homes, schools, and adapt to a new culture. They learn how to take care of a dog thus developing close connections with the pet, and these connections extend well beyond the classroom, helping them to feel connected to life around them", explains Joanna proudly.

“ Over the past year , IOM Lithuania has organized four therapy groups with 10 children attending each session and we are always exploring new ways to assist children from war zones to find security and belonging here in Lithuania. This is where Joana and Moka come in,” shares Eitvydas Bingelis, Head of IOM Lithuania.

Through this simple yet profound connection with dogs, Eva and others like her are finding their way towards a life of resilience, joy, and a renewed sense of hope.

This story was written by Božena Zaborovska-Zdanovič, bzaborovska@iom.int