Ukrainian Team Visits Starnberg: Time to Learn and Recharge

Two weeks of shared experiences, practical learning and mutual encouragement: in September, six staff members and volunteers from Ukraine travelled to Starnberg. Together with Janice Lehnis, co-founder and Board Member of Care in Action e. V., they deepened their skills in working with children and young people – while finding time to recharge their batteries.

Supporting children through the difficult realities of war takes knowledge, resilience and reliable support. The exchange in Starnberg gave our Ukrainian colleagues the opportunity to learn together, share new experiences and take a much-needed break from air-raid alarms. Through interactive workshops and excursions, the two weeks proved a rewarding experience for everyone involved.

Janice developed the two-week exchange together with Fred Luzanycia and Iryna Kamienska, two experienced education and training professionals who generously volunteered their time and expertise.

Practical tools for supporting children

One of the training focuses was the STEP handbook, which Janice developed in 2025 with support from Fred and Iryna. It offers practical ideas and guidance to help children and young people develop important life skills. The sessions also explored how adults can use open-ended questions to encourage children to think for themselves, express their ideas and find their own solutions.

Maria's feedback shows just how readily these approaches can be put into practice. As a volunteer team leader, she travels for an hour and a half each way every fortnight to visit a children's home in a remote area. There, she runs creative activities that support the children's social and emotional development.

Maria describes the STEP handbook as a “treasure trove of knowledge” for mentors and volunteers. She is particularly delighted to have already put some of the ideas into practice:

“I've already had the chance to try out the open-ended questions with the children – what a wonderful tool you've given us!”

Time to learn and recharge

For Katia, who coordinates mentoring in rural areas of the Lviv region for Care in Action, the visit also had special personal significance. She recruits and trains new volunteer mentors, helping to ensure that more children in residential care, including those in remote locations, have someone they can rely on for individual support and guidance.

“The workshops and interactive sessions gave me an enormous boost, both professionally and personally. This trip was not just an opportunity to learn; it was also a safe haven. I was able to recharge emotionally, take a deep breath and find the inner calm that I need so much right now. Thank you to everyone who supported us and made it possible for us to take away such valuable knowledge, find new inspiration and feel such strong support.”

Encounters that bring people together

One of the highlights was a meeting with donors and child sponsors from the Starnberg International Fellowship. In informal conversations, the Ukrainian guests shared insights into their work and their experiences with the children. For those supporting Care in Action, it was an opportunity to meet the people behind the projects and hear first-hand about the difference their support makes.

The time together was equally valuable for Janice:

“The exchange deepened my respect for what our team achieves under the extremely difficult conditions of war. Their commitment goes far beyond what could reasonably be expected of them – always with the aim of being there for the children. It was an incredibly rewarding time for all of us.”

A long-standing tradition of learning and exchange

Since 2010, Care in Action has organised international exchange visits for Ukrainian professionals and volunteers. The tradition began when Werner and Janice Lehnis arranged a visit for Ukrainian children's home directors to residential care facilities in Slovakia. The aim was to learn about different approaches to childcare and take fresh ideas and inspiration back to their own work.

Over the years, these exchanges have become a valued part of our work. They combine professional learning with cultural experiences and lasting personal connections. Many of the visits were hosted by the Protestant church community and kindergartens in Marktredwitz, with financial support from the Stiftung Hilfe zur Selbst-Hilfe. They have led to long-standing friendships between people in Ukraine and Germany. For many participants, one particularly memorable experience was seeing how children in Germany are encouraged from an early age to become independent and develop a love of learning.

The exchange in Starnberg continues this tradition: strengthening those who support children, sharing knowledge and building connections across borders.

Our sincere thanks go to Fred Luzanycia and Iryna Kamienska for generously volunteering their time and expertise, and to everyone whose support and hospitality helped make this exchange possible.