How the “Mentorship” project helps teenagers regain faith in themselves

The Problem We Rarely Talk About

We often speak about the trauma of orphanhood — but rarely look deeper, at what makes this trauma endure.
Learned helplessness is a state where a person stops believing they can influence their own life — and gradually loses faith in their own strength.

This happens quietly, step by step. When a child is repeatedly ignored or punished for expressing needs, they make one logical conclusion:
“It’s better not to try.” From this grows a deep belief that one’s actions don’t matter, one’s words don’t count, and one’s desires aren’t important.

That belief becomes the foundation for a worldview built on avoidance, indecision, and a lack of ambition. Teens don’t just “not want to” — they’ve forgotten how to want. They don’t just “not believe” — they are convinced that any effort is pointless. Their behavior isn’t apathy — it’s a defense mechanism born from experience.

Creating New Life Scenarios

In the “Mentorship” project, we focused on working with learned helplessness — not by revisiting the trauma itself, but by helping teenagers form new, empowering beliefs that could become the foundation for change.

The role of psychological support was to create a safe space — a place where teens could feel seen, accepted, and heard.
For many, it was the first time they allowed themselves to have desires — something that once felt forbidden.

Over the course of the project, participants had five sessions with psychologists, each helping them better understand themselves, recognize emotions, and define what truly matters.

“There’s hidden potential inside every child. The task of a safe adult is to help them see it.” — Maryna Kravchenko, project supervisor, Dobrodiy Club

But what truly matters isn’t just numbers — it’s transformation. Teens began to listen to themselves, identify feelings, and understand their priorities. Step by step, learned helplessness transformed into inner strength.

Five Insights from Psychologists on Supporting Teens with Orphanhood Experience

Based on their work in the Mentorship program, psychologists identified five key principles that help teenagers overcome learned helplessness.