By Benjamin Rosas
In June 2025, Kidsave’s team in Ukraine brought together over 80 people to celebrate Children’s Protection Day. Commonly referred to as Children's Day, it is the most celebrated holiday in Ukraine. This holiday acknowledges children's rights to safety, education, family, and well-being. For our team in Ukraine, it is a day dedicated to celebrating children and creating fun and safe memories for kids growing up in orphanages and foster care.
Although some last-minute changes had to be made due to the threat of air raids, the team didn’t let this stop the celebration. From the very beginning, sounds of laughter and excitement filled the air as children and teens, volunteers, mentors, and friends came together for a day of fun, inspiration, and hope.
Our kids let their imagination shine as they “traveled” the world thanks to the theme Passports of Dreams. The first stop was France, where the kids danced and raced in high-energy relays. Then, everyone practiced their hip-hop moves in team challenges in the USA and became interpreters in Poland. Next, the kids visited Big Ben in the United Kingdom. The last stop was, of course, Ukraine where everyone sang heartfelt national songs and shared stories of their cherished homeland.
Once back from their travels across the world, it was time for a well-deserved lunch break. The kids and adults were able to enjoy each other’s company, grateful for the opportunity to connect with one another in person.
The activities continued after lunch, and the focus shifted to giving the kids a healthy way to express their feelings through creativity. In floral design, the kids used flowers as their medium, going on a journey of imagination and beauty. Next, the Japanese cultural arts session allowed them to engage with traditional practices, giving them a relaxing aesthetic experience. In art therapy, their imagination truly shined as they expressed themselves through painting.
Hosted by a professional psychologist, the children were given a blank canvas and free rein to paint their desires and feelings. The children allowed themselves to let out their inner struggles and express their emotions through art.
One young woman held a large brush with red paint at the tip. With one swift stroke she glided across it, leaving a red road almost covering the entire canvas.
“This is all the negativity, anxiety, and anger I carry inside. I want to let it out,” she said. When asked how she would fight back against these negative emotions, the girl reached for a yellow paintbrush. A symbol of light and hope. It was a powerful reminder of the strength of children and the importance of creating safe spaces for them to find hope for a better tomorrow.
This amazing event wouldn’t have been possible without our volunteers and Supermentors. Our Supermentors are young adults who were once participants in our Pathway to Success program. Today, they are active volunteers and role models for the youth still in the program. The Supermentors were instrumental in planning, organizing, and executing the Children’s Day activities.
Despite the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, Children's Day was filled with warmth, celebration, and, most importantly, laughter. The goal was to make the day special for the kids and to let them know that they are loved and supported. Based on the amount of smiles and laughter, we can proudly say the event was a great success.
