Themes by tag: children

Iryna Shmatko lost her husband and mother in the war. Iryna met her beloved Oleksandr back in 2014 at the Azov training center, where her future husband was serving at the time. The relationship developed, in 2017 Oleksandr was discharged and the couple became parents of three children.

With the beginning of russia’s full-scale invasion, Oleksandr Shmatko immediately returned to the ranks of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, and Iryna took up volunteering.

On April 15, 2022, Iryna lost her mother, Nataliia Strebkova (call sign Zoriana), who defended Mariupol and died during the bombing of the Azovstal plant.

Later, Iryna found out that she was pregnant with her fourth child. However, Oleksandr didn’t live long enough to meet his youngest daughter. He died in November 2023 in Donetsk region. The girl, who was born three weeks after her father’s death, was named Zoriana after her heroic grandmother.

Journalists can talk to Iryna in person in Poltava or online. Iryna is raising two sons (ages 9 and 5) and two daughters (age 7 and an 8-month infant).

For reference: Nataliia Strebkova (call sign Zoriana) was posthumously awarded the Order for Courage 3rd degree. The “Memorial” platform created a documentary film about Nataliia.

Currently, the family is being cared for by the Children of Heroes charitable foundation. The organization helps children who lost one or both parents as a result of russia’s full-scale invasion. The foundation provides financial assistance, psychological and legal support, promotes education and development of children until they reach adulthood.

• children
• dead
• military
• women
• Poltava

For 15 years, Tetiana Hrek has dedicated her life to teaching karate to both children and adults. Together with her husband, she established a private gym in Bucha, Kyiv region. However, the full-scale invasion changed everything. When the war erupted, Tetiana and her family found themselves trapped under occupation. During this harrowing time, their gym was looted by invaders, and their home came under fire.

After two weeks of living under occupation, Tetiana and her family managed to escape to territory controlled by Ukraine. It wasn’t until a year later that she felt ready to return to Bucha. In her absence, fellow coaches who had remained in the city took it upon themselves to restore the gym and resume classes for children. When Tetiana finally returned, she was welcomed back by eager students waiting to train with her again. Additionally, a public martial arts school in Bucha reopened, and she was invited to join as an instructor.

• casualties
• children
• occupation
• russian crimes
• women
• Kyiv

On July 28, a charity run to support Ukraine’s largest children’s hospital Okhmatdyt will be held in Kyiv to commemorate the Medical Workers’ Day.

The goal of the race is to help the hospital recover from the russian missile attack on July 8, 2024 by collecting UAH 1 million.

For reference: As a result of the russian attack on the Okhmatdyt children’s hospital on July 8, 2024, two people died. 32 injured people sought medical help.

• casualties
• children
• dead
• doctors
• russian crimes
• Kyiv

Zaporizhia will witness the official launch of a new educational center on July 18, specifically designed for children from internally displaced families.

This pioneering center offers:
– Structured classes led by qualified educators;
– Themed activities encompassing sports, art therapy, psychological workshops, scientific experiments, interactive learning, dynamic entertainment, quests, and cinematic experiences;
– A secure and nurturing environment.

More than just a place for academic learning, this center encourages children to explore their talents, forge new friendships, and make the most of their time.

The event will host esteemed guests including representatives from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Ukraine Confidence Building Initiative (UCBI).

Supported by USAID’s Ukraine Confidence Building Initiative (UCBI) and the Support Ukraine Today Foundation, the center’s inauguration marks a significant step in supporting children affected by displacement.

• children
• Zaporizhzhia

Artist Yaroslava Yatsuba and schoolboy Mark Ivanchenko met at the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Back then the 13-year-old boy created the first animation based on Yaroslava’s drawing. Mark animated a piece called “Moonlit Night,” in which Ukrainians destroy enemy tanks under the moonlight. Since then, the artist and the animator began to collaborate. Yaroslava draws almost every day, she finds ideas for her works in the news. And Mark turns her drawings into animations.

Yaroslava puts up her “Living Pictures” for a raffle in exchange for donations as well as presents them at international exhibitions. Animations also accompany fundraisers of many military personnel and have already helped raise more than UAH 250,000 to support the Defense Forces.

This year Mark’s animations took first place at the international “Children’s Film Festival,” and the boy donated the prize money to the fundraiser for the Azov Regiment. 

• children
• culture
• women

Anastasiia Morozova serves as a pediatrician at the Okhmatdyt National Children’s Hospital and heads the Little Hearts program under FRIDA Ukraine, a Ukrainian-Israeli Medical Volunteer Mission. This program deploys multidisciplinary teams of volunteer doctors to orphanages to assess the children’s needs for medications, vaccinations, rehabilitation, and surgical interventions. Anastasiia has participated in over 20 FRIDA Ukraine missions.

On July 8, Anastasiia witnessed a russian missile attack on Okhmatdyt. She was unharmed and, along with FRIDA volunteers, helped evacuate the children, provided medical care to the victims, and assisted in clearing the rubble. The attack resulted in two fatalities and 32 injuries at the hospital.

Journalists can arrange interviews with Anastasiia and join FRIDA Ukraine missions by prior arrangement.

For reference: Since the full-scale invasion began, about 8,500 Ukrainian children have been left without parental care, over 1,500 have become orphans, and tens of thousands have lost their homes or been forced to relocate. Ukrainian children’s homes and orphanages are under immense pressure, with depleted resources and limited access to quality medical care. Through the Little Hearts project, FRIDA supports orphanages and boarding schools across Ukraine.

• children
• doctors
• russian crimes
• women
• Kyiv

A social project in support of Ukrainian defenders has been operating in Lviv and Ternopil, since the beginning of the full-scale war. The project makes it possible for couples to undergo a free infertility treatment program, as well as to cryopreserve (freeze) their biological material (sperm and eggs).

Journalists have the opportunity to learn more about this project by talking to the doctor of medical sciences, reproductive endocrinologist Stefan Khmil. And, if possible, with couples who used the services provided by the initiative.

• children
• doctors
• military
• Lviv
• Ternopil

On July 5, media representatives are invited to the opening night of the inclusive and interactive theatrical performance for children with disabilities entitled “Symphony of Ukrainian Fairy Tales” performed by the Kyiv-Classic Symphony Orchestra under the direction of UNESCO Artist for Peace Herman Makarenko. The event will take place on the territory of Okhmatdyt National Specialized Children’s Hospital. Young patients of the hospital will take a direct part in the play.

In “Symphony of Ukrainian Fairy Tales” musical and theatrical art are combined using an interactive approach. The script is based on Ukrainian folklore. The performance will feature the works of Semen Hulak-Artemovsky, Mykola Lysenko, Levko Kolodub and Volodymyr Ptushkin, as well as Ukrainian folk melodies.

The program of the event includes: a briefing with the participation Volodymyr Zhovnir, General Director of the Okhmatdyt hospital, Herman Makarenko, Head of Kyiv-Classic Symphony Orchestra, Olena Anopriienko, Chief Psychologist of the Okhmatdyt hospital, Vadym Myroshnychenko, Director and Playwright, and Nataliia Miiedinova, actress and gamemaster; the performance; interaction with participants and spectators of the performance.

The event requires accreditation.

For reference: The project is supported by the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation.

• children
• culture
• Kyiv

Oleksandra Knyha and her brother Andrii, hailing from the now-occupied town of Oleshky in the Kherson region, have shown remarkable resilience and dedication. When Russian tanks entered Oleshky and Kherson at the beginning of the invasion, the siblings stayed to help their community. Oleksandra’s friends from abroad sent several trucks of humanitarian aid, which she and Andrii sorted, distributed, and handed out. However, as volunteers strongly involved in civic engagement began to be abducted, the pair had to relocate to Ukrainian-controlled territory

After the de-occupation of Kherson on November 11, 2022, Oleksandra and Andrii returned to help rebuild the city. They organized creative workshops for children in shelters, addressing the urgent need for education and engagement amidst the destruction. This initiative led to the creation of the Kryla Foundation (KRYLA).

The foundation supports families on the right bank of the Dnipro River and carries out humanitarian missions in the town of Oleshky on the occupied left bank. The area suffered significant damage after the Russians blew up the Kakhovka dam. The foundation organizes events and holidays for children in the Kherson region and has arranged trips for Kherson children to camps in Poland and western Ukraine.

Currently, with the support of partners, they are developing a new project called Multispace “KRYLA” (WINGS). This shelter location provides Kherson residents with opportunities to socialize or learn new skills despite the ongoing security concerns.

Journalists can learn more and speak with Oleksandra and Andrii either offline or online.

For reference: Before the full-scale war, Oleksandra Knyha and her friends organized various events and transported supplies for children from an orphanage in Kakhovka. Since 2016, she has worked with children with mental disabilities, designing a collection of casual clothes featuring their drawings. Andrii managed a family business in Oleshky, developing green tourism at a local recreation center with his wife.

• casualties
• children
• occupation
• volunteers
• Kherson

On June 14, a meeting with the organizers of the National Selection for Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2024 will be held at Media Center Ukraine — Ukrinform in Kyiv. During the event, Suspilne will present a songwriter and a director who will work on this year’s selection. The event will be moderated by Tymur Miroshnychenko, Ukraine’s National Selection for Eurovision commentator and host.

At the event, Svitlana Tarabarova, music producer of the National Selection and

Oksana Skybinska, Head of Delegation for Ukraine at the Eurovision Song Contest, will tell you everything you need to know about the innovations and participation criteria for this year’s National Selection. The participants include: Tetiana Kovryga, Director of the GoGlobal Educational Foundation, Oksana Pysarieva, a psychologist at the Voices of Children Foundation.

Pre-registration is required.

For reference: Suspilne has simplified the criteria for participation in the National Selection to make it even more accessible for young performers: it is not necessary for them to write their own songs. To take part in the competition and win the opportunity to represent Ukraine on the big stage of Junior Eurovision Song Contest – 2024 in Madrid, Spain, it is enough to record two covers of popular songs and a video introduction.

At the same time, young songwriters still have the opportunity to submit their own song for consideration if they wish. However, this option does not affect their chances of passing to the next stage of selection.

Applications for participation in the National Selection are accepted up until July 3 through the form on the website junior.eurovision.ua

• children
• culture
• Kyiv