Themes by tag: children

The war has transformed the childhood and adolescence of Ukrainian children into a state of constant turbulence. Displacement, loss, isolation, remote learning, anxiety, lack of community, and information overload have become the new normal for a generation that is still learning to understand itself.

Under these circumstances, having a supportive and safe space nearby is especially crucial — one that does not stigmatize their experiences or demand that they “cope on their own”. Kyiv’s “Place of Power” is precisely that: a transformative space for teenagers aged 10–17 affected by the war.

“Place of Power” is a three-story haven offering support, development, and recovery to teenagers from Kyiv and its suburbs who have experienced trauma.

Here, they can:

• understand their emotional states;
• find support from adults who know how to listen;
• relieve stress and anxiety;
• restore psycho-emotional development disrupted by the war; 
• find a community that accepts them;
• explore themselves through creativity, interaction, and new formats.

The space features a large workshop hall, an art zone titled “Creativity — The Antidote to Stress,” a therapeutic room with a “No Adults Allowed” policy, a well-equipped shelter, and constant access to light and electricity.

In less than two years of operation, more than 32,000 teenagers have visited the space. More than 10,000 hours of therapeutic and restorative activities have taken place, and over 4,000 events have been held to relieve tension, provide new experiences, and help young people rediscover themselves.

Journalists are invited to visit the space by prior arrangement and speak with visitors and organizers.

Background: “Place of Power” is a project of the Charitable Foundation “Dobrodiy Club”, which has been operating since 2014. The foundation’s mission is to foster a resilient and capable generation of young Ukrainians who will have the resources necessary for leading full lives and developing the country.

• children
• Kyiv

Volunteers with the St. Nicholas’s Reindeer project have already received over 1,700 letters. This year, children frequently asked St. Nicholas for power banks so they could charge their phones and stay connected during power outages. The Labubu toy is also among the most popular requests. Children are asking for construction sets, toy cars, books, musical instruments, and balls. Some children have lost their homes due to the war and are asking St. Nicholas for clothes.

Anyone who wishes to can choose a child’s letter and fulfill their wish. Volunteers will deliver the gifts, host a celebration, and provide a photo report. St. Nicholas’s reindeer will visit Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and other regions (the project will cover approximately 50 locations in total).

Many former volunteers have joined the Defense Forces and are now defending Ukraine on the front lines.

Journalists can speak with the campaign organizers in Kharkiv and, if possible, cover the gift distribution process in various regions.

Background: The St. Nicholas’s Reindeer project was founded in Kharkiv in 2016 to support children from communities near the frontlines.

St. Nicholas Day is celebrated in Ukraine on December 6.

• children
• volunteers
• Kharkiv

St. Nicholas’ residence opened its doors in Lviv on November 1, welcoming thousands of letters from children hoping for a holiday miracle. For 29 years, Malteser International, the worldwide relief agency of the Order of Malta, has been bringing those wishes to life, supporting young Ukrainians facing hardship.

This year, the residence has already received more than 2,000 letters from children across Ukraine, including those displaced to the Lviv region by the war, as well as from frontline communities in the Kherson and Kharkiv regions.

Members of the public are invited to join the campaign and help fulfill children’s wishes by becoming part of St. Nicholas’ team of helpers.

Journalists who arrange visits in advance will have the opportunity to film the residence in Lviv, observe the packing and distribution of gifts, and speak with the project manager, volunteers, and benefactors.

For context, St. Nicholas Day is celebrated in Ukraine on December 6.

• children
• Lviv

For World Children’s Day on November 20, the Children of Heroes Foundation is launching an information campaign titled “Why Does It Rain, Dad?” aimed at highlighting the experiences of children who have lost one or both parents, and the emotional and educational challenges that follow.

More than 14,500 children supported by the foundation face everyday questions without a mother or father beside them. The campaign weaves together family stories and new research to show how the war has reshaped not only their sense of safety, but also their education, emotional resilience, and outlook on the future.

In response to these findings, the foundation continues to expand its educational and psychological support programs. In 2025, 34 trained psychotherapists joined its team. By November, they had provided 33,864 therapy sessions for children and their caregivers.

Journalists will have a chance to speak with the children and the foundation’s leadership, both online and in person.

For reference: The Children of Heroes Charitable Foundation offers sustained support to children who have lost one or both parents due to the war. Its programs include urgent personalized assistance, humanitarian aid, medical and psychological services, and long-term educational opportunities until the children reach adulthood.

• children

Children often ask direct questions such as: “Why did they attack us?” and “When will this end?” How can you answer honestly without causing unnecessary anxiety? How can parents maintain inner calm when the world around them is unstable?

An open meeting will be held on November 17 to discuss practical approaches to communicating with children during war:

• How to talk about complex topics in simple terms;
• Which words are calming, and which might be frightening;
• How to create a sense of safety at home.
• Why a parent’s calmness is key support for a child.
• How to explain the absence of a father or mother if they are serving on the front lines.
• Is it necessary to limit exposure to the news?

The discussion will cover the best times to talk and when to remain silent, how to tailor answers to a child’s age, and which communication principles will help you be a pillar of strength during difficult times.

Speakers:

• Yuliia Tukalenko, psychologist at the Voices of Children Charitable Foundation;
• Nataliia Obolenska, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisor; physical therapist; founder of the Navkolo Svoi NGO; and partner of a military service member.

Registration is required for the event.

• children
• Kyiv

On November 17, the Media Center Ukraine will host a briefing, “One-time visits and gifts: Risks for children in institutional care and what truly works”

Participants:

– Daria Herasymchuk, Advisor and Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for Children’s Rights and Rehabilitation (in person);

– Maksym Rabtsun, Member of the DIiMO Office, a person with experience of institutional care (in person);

– Kyrylo Nevdokha, Head of the DIiMO Office, a person with experience of institutional care (in person);

– Olena Vydiuk, Foster Mother of a family-type children’s home (online);

– Sofiia Yudina, Mentor for a child from an institutional care facility, Mentorship Development Manager at the DIiMO Office (in person).

Key topics:

– The potential risks of one-time visits

– Why “good intentions” can sometimes be traumatic for children.

– Which forms of support are truly effective?

The event organizers are waiting for confirmation from journalists who wish to attend.

Ahead of the winter holidays, there is traditionally an increase in visits to care facilities for children. Companies, volunteers, and initiative groups bring gifts and organize “holiday events” for the children. But are these visits always helpful?

• children
• Kyiv

On World Prematurity Day, November 17, a unique event will take place at St. Nicholas Hospital in Lviv: an official Ukraine Record attempt. Fifty children who were born prematurely at this very hospital, together with their parents, will assemble the country’s largest puzzle.

The installation will cover a total area of 100 square meters. Each puzzle piece represents a saved childhood — a small story of victory. When all the parts are connected, a grand picture of hope will emerge.

This record attempt will launch the large-scale charity initiative, Energy of Life, by SOCAR, UNBROKEN, and dobro.ua. The goal is to raise funds for a modern transport incubator with a built-in ventilator, enabling doctors to safely transport critically ill newborns. Approximately 13,000 children are born prematurely in Ukraine each year. St. Nicholas Hospital — a key part of the UNBROKEN National Rehabilitation Center ecosystem — provides care for infants from across the entire country.

Journalists are required to register for the event.

• children
• Lviv

On November 12, special open Care Lessons themed “Stop Bullying: Where Did Rudyk Go?” will take place in Kyiv and Kharkiv, focusing on ways to combat bullying behaviors among young children. The events will feature Daria Herasymchuk, Presidential Advisor for Children’s Rights and Rehabilitation, who will lead the session in Kyiv, and Anastasia Svoboda, founder of the Academy of Care, who will host the class in an underground school in Kharkiv.

The interactive lessons, which begin rolling out in Ukrainian schools on November 10, are designed to provide simple, practical tools that help children aged 5 to 10 recognize and speak up about bullying rather than remain silent.

As Ukrainian children continue to live under conditions of prolonged stress and uncertainty caused by the war, cases of bullying have sharply increased. In the first four months of 2025 alone, police recorded 1.5 times more incidents than during the same period last year. Yet many adults still struggle to respond effectively, according to the Ministry of Education and Science, only 28 percent of teachers can confidently identify bullying.

The Academy of Care offers a systemic approach through its Care Lessons program, an interactive class built around the story of a missing character named Rudyk. Through this narrative, children learn to:

– recognize hidden forms of bullying such as insults and exclusion;

– establish personal boundaries and express emotions safely;

– develop a set of “Good Classroom Rules” to foster a culture of empathy and mutual support.

Media accreditation is required.

• children
• culture
• Kharkiv
• Kyiv

A press conference titled “A Dream That Unites” is going to be held by the Voices of Children Charitable Foundation in Kyiv on October 28. The event will highlight the unique initiative of 16-year-old Sofiia, a Ukrainian girl who built a model of the legendary An-225 Mriya aircraft and launched a charity fundraiser to provide psychological support to children affected by the war.

Three years ago, Sofiia was forced to leave Ukraine because of the war and moved to Switzerland. She faced many challenges, including adapting to a new environment, feeling lonely, and being bullied. However, with the help of psychologists from the Voices of Children Foundation, Sofiia was able to overcome these difficulties and integrate into her new environment. Inspired by her experience, she decided to help other children.

Sofiia meticulously built a detailed model of the An-225 Mriya aircraft. During a school presentation in Switzerland, she shared stories about Ukrainian children who have lost their homes and parents or who live in constant danger. She decided to raffle off the model in a charity lottery, directing the proceeds to the foundation’s psychologists, who provide critical support to children affected by war.

Representatives from SkyUp Airlines and the jewelry brand Kochut were inspired by Sofiia’s story and joined the initiative by adding valuable branded gifts to the charity raffle. The project also received support from the State Enterprise “Antonov” and Dmytro Antonov, the legendary pilot of the An-225 Mriya. Sofiia’s model was transported from Switzerland to Ukraine, where it will be exhibited for a month at the State Aviation Museum in Kyiv.

Participants:

• Sofiia, creator of the Mriya model (online);
• Olena Rozvadovska and Azad Safarov, co-founders of the Voices of Children Charity Foundation;
• Dmytro Antonov, pilot of the An-225 Mriya aircraft.

Media representatives and all interested parties are invited to attend the event.

• children
• psychological support
• Kyiv

From October 16 to 19, the “Povstanska Vatra 2025” (Rebel Fire 2025) camp jamboree organized by the Youth Nationalist Congress will take place in the Kyiv oblast. This four-day event will bring together young people from across Ukraine to learn, share experiences, test their teamwork skills, and experience the power of unity firsthand.

The “Povstanska Vatra” jamboree is more than just a retreat. It is a space for intellectual, physical, and patriotic development. The word “jamboree” signifies a “gathering of all tribes after a long war” or a “great council”.

This year’s key program blocks include:

• Educational block featuring lectures and discussions on state-building, volunteering, veteran affairs, and civic activism;
• Direct interaction: opportunities to engage with veterans, civil activists, and leading lecturers;
• Team activities: team-building games, practical tasks, calisthenics, sports, and rugby;
• Evening bonfires with songs and an atmosphere of unity and camaraderie.

Although there is an organizational fee for the camp, participants from the Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts will be able to attend for free.

Journalists are invited to cover the “Povstanska Vatra 2025” jamboree and speak with participants and organizers, by prior arrangement.

• children
• Kyiv