How does war shape a child’s life?
9 December 2025
16:00 - 17:30
Speakers' Corner
How does war shape a child’s life?
This question is at the heart of our upcoming panel discussion on the impact of the war in Ukraine on children and young people.
As part of the exhibition Lost Childhood, this panel brings together experts who work closely with children and families. They will share insights into the experiences, resilience, and support needs of children living in Ukraine, as well as those who have moved abroad.
Ukrainian Ambassador Andriy Kostin will speak about the situation of children who have been separated from their families during the conflict, and the ongoing efforts aimed at reconnecting them with their communities.
We also welcome Anna Solenko (specialist in cooperation with central executive authorities) and Stefanie Schuddebeurs (sociologist at THUAS, specialising in migration and democratic participation). They will discuss the psychological wellbeing of Ukrainian children and the programmes developed to support them in both the Netherlands and Ukraine.
By bringing together diplomats, academics, and practitioners, this discussion highlights how different organisations can work together to strengthen protection, recovery, and future opportunities for young people affected by war.
This event is organised in collaboration with the Ukrainian Institute and the Embassy of Ukraine in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Andriy Kostin, Ambassador of Ukraine to the Kingdom of the Netherlands
As Prosecutor General of Ukraine (2022–2024), Andriy Kostin led Ukraine’s efforts to ensure accountability for Russian war crimes, including crimes committed against Ukrainian children. From 2020 to 2022, he served as Chair of the Committee on Legal Policy in the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament of Ukraine). Before his election to the Parliament, Mr. Kostin served as a lawyer and attorney, working with leading law firms and professional associations in Ukraine.
Anna Sokolenko, Analyst of the Coordination Center for Mental Health of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Specialist in interaction with central executive authorities
The Coordination Center for Mental Health was created by the Government of Ukraine to bring together everyone working in the field of mental health—ministries, institutions, organizations, local government bodies, non-governmental sector, international partners and donors, as well as the experts and scientific community.
Its main goal is to develop and implement the national mental health program “How Are U?”, initiated by First Lady Olena Zelenska, which helps make psychological support more accessible to people across Ukraine.
Stefanie Schuddebeurs, MA, researcher on wellbeing and the position of Ukrainian displaced teenagers in The Hague
Stefanie is a sociologist, specializing in migration and democratic participation at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. She coordinates a three-year partnership with the Municipality of The Hague for research projects concerning migration in the city. In light of this partnership, she currently researches the well-being of Ukrainian teenagers and their position in the Hague society. She holds an MA in Conflict Studies and Human Rights (’09), for which she did qualitative research in Israel and Palestine. Previously, she advised on integration and participation policy at the Dutch Ministry of Interior Affairs as a policy advisor.
An event by The Lighthouse
At The Lighthouse, you take a closer look at the world and maybe also at yourself. Always relevant, inspiring, and with a twist.
