Finding hope at home again

When Munozhat Mirkhodjaeva walks through the doors of the Inson Social Service Centre in Tashkent’s Uchtepa district, she knows that behind every file, every case number, there is a child or a parent carrying a heavy story.

Her work is not easy. Families who come to the Inson centre often have deep wounds – emotional trauma, loss, displacement.

“Many women suffer from physical and emotional abuse. Children often don’t know how to express what they feel,” Munozhat explains. “That’s why trainings like the one UNICEF organized are so important. They give us new ways to listen, to help, and to heal.”

One of Munozhat’s colleagues, psychologist Youkutkhon Gafurova from the Sergili district, remembers a mother who returned to Uzbekistan after years of hardship in Syria. She had lost one child there. Her teenage daughter had been imprisoned and only rejoined the family later. The girl came home carrying the weight of trauma, and her relationship with her mother was broken.

“We visited the family many times,” recalls Youkutkhon. “At first, there was tension and silence. But little by little, we helped them talk, reconnect, and rebuild trust.” With support from the Inson Centre and the local mahalla, the children were enrolled in school, and the daughter was able to start vocational training. “The relationship between mother and daughter improved. Hope began to return to the family,” Youkutkhon says.

For Munozhat, one of the most powerful lessons from the UNICEF-supported training was learning the “Wheel of Emotions,” a tool to help children and adults name and understand their feelings. “Sometimes people can’t put their emotions into words. With this tool, I can guide them to recognize what’s happening inside. It makes a real difference,” she says.

Another method – the “Butterfly” exercise – helps children cope with stress. “These small tools open big doors. They help children see that their feelings matter, and that they are not alone,” adds Youkutkhon.

Psychologists at Inson centres often encounter parents who, under stress, struggle to communicate with their children – especially when a child has disabilities or behavioral challenges. “One mother shouted at her son constantly,” Munozhat remembers. “She didn’t know his behavior was linked to stress and unmet needs. When we explained how shouting or harsh words could harm his development, she began to try new ways of speaking to him. Slowly, their relationship began to change.”

For both Munozhat and Youkutkhon, the training was more than professional development – it was personal growth. “It urged me to reflect on my work, on my mistakes, and on how I can do better,” says Youkutkhon. “Now I am ready to train other colleagues in Inson centres across the country. Together, we can reach more families and more children.”

This work was made possible through the EU-funded project “EU-UN Support for Central Asian Citizens Returning from Conflict Zones”, which helps strengthen the skills of frontline social workers and psychologists so that every child and family in need receives the care and support they deserve.

The impact has been huge. Building resilience case by case. For mothers returning from conflict zones, for children struggling with trauma, and for families at the edge of breaking, psychologists like Munozhat and Youkutkhon are vital – listening, guiding, and helping families to rediscover that lost bond.