Children across Australia are being asked to be part of the Magic Hearts For Ukraine Project to send one million Magic Hearts with messages of love and support to fellow children affected by war in Ukraine.

The project’s purpose is to let them know children from the other side of the world love and care for them.

More than half of Ukraine’s 7.5 million children have been displaced after just one month of the war, and the not-for-profit Foundation is seeking ways to prevent feelings of hurt and abandonment amongst this vulnerable young group.

So far, 10,000 heart letters of support to children have been sent to Ukraine.

Also accompanying each letter is a book: The Magic Coat for Ukraine, translated into Ukrainian and offers coping strategies for young people to process the trauma experienced.

The children’s mental wellbeing organisation, The Magic Coat Foundation, are the organisers of the tributes and books.

Magic Coat Foundation Director, Tom Emery, asked the Foundation’s CEO, Di Wilcox, to write a book specifically for the children of Ukraine to help support their mental health and wellbeing after seeing firsthand the atrocities that Ukrainian people are facing.

Mr Emery travelled to Europe to assist Ukrainian refugees safely cross the Ukrainian border into other countries. In recent times he has been helping to convert an old hotel into an orphanage for Ukrainian children in Munster, Germany, early in the Ukraine crisis.

The book Magic Coat for Ukraine is based on the hugely popular book The Magic Coat – Creating Calm, Confident and Caring Kids, written by Ms Wilcox for Australian children ages 2-11 to assist them in recognising and managing emotions.

The Ukrainian edition includes a new character, The Magic Heart, which appears on every page and is designed to let Ukrainian children know they are loved, wherever they are.

The book, distributed by volunteers in Ukraine, Germany, Poland, and other neighbouring European countries, is now being used by parents, teachers, and psychologists on the ground to teach the children essential strategies to help them cope with the devastating challenges they are currently facing.

“I have seen so many people emotionally affected by the atrocities in Eastern Europe wondering how they can do their part. I just knew there had to be a way to establish a connection between these people and the young victims of war, so we started the Magic Heart for Ukraine project,” said The Magic Coat Foundation founder/Director, author and 2020 United Nations WA Human Rights Award recipient Di Willcox.

“This is just the beginning, and we are desperate for more help so that we can make a difference for an even greater number of children.”

For children across Australia to get involved, The Magic Coat Foundation encourages them to create their own Magic Heart and write a message to a child in Ukraine to let them know they care.

To participate, Magic Hearts can be uploaded via the Magic Heart for Ukraine page at www.themagiccoat.com

Schools and youth organisations are also encouraged to take part, with expressions of interest welcome via email to the following address: mcfadmin@magiccoatfoundation.com.au

The Foundation is also asking for donations to help raise funds to reach the target of one million books to help the refugee children.

To donate, visit The Magic Coat – Creating Calm, Confident and Caring Kids | Magic Coat and follow The Magic Heart for Ukraine button. www.themagiccoat.com