Children across Ukraine have been forced to grow up quickly as they try to navigate life in a war-torn country. When providing aid to those impacted by war, we often think of things like food, water, medical supplies, and shelter which are all critical for survival. But there are also other important things that we as humans need like love, hope, and joy.
Research suggests that for children, being able to play and experience joy is crucial for proper growth and development. That’s why, in addition to providing life-saving humanitarian aid, our team in Ukraine works to also provide safe spaces for kids to connect and play despite the harrowing circumstances.
On June 1, in honor of International Children’s Day, our amazing team in Ukraine hosted an all-day celebration for local children and families. Three separate events in Mykolaiv, Prybuzke village, and Zelenyi Hai village brought food, fun, and joy to over 270 children in Ukraine! This all day event was a joint effort between Kidsave’s Angels of Hope team, our partner organization Sunrise of Dreams, and the young adults and mentors from our Pathway to Success program.
Olena Shulha, one of our most dedicated team leaders in Ukraine, reported on the day, saying, “Everything went absolutely wonderful! Miraculously, there were no shellings or air raid alerts during the celebration. The first group of children arrived at the center in Mykolaiv at 9:30 am. We had a program prepared for them as well as popcorn and gifts. In total, over 130 children came to the office to participate. The children were so excited and the parents were deeply moved by how much was prepared for the kids!”
While these festivities were taking place in Mykolaiv, Kidsave Angels of Hope volunteers were transporting 43 children and families from the Prybuzke village to visit the zoo—which is still operational! At the zoo, the children and families were able to see the animals, eat ice cream, and, at the end of the event, each child was given a new backpack stocked with supplies.
The third event of the day took place in the Zelenyi Hai village. Volunteers set up a festival with popcorn, cotton candy, games, music, and dancing for about 100 children there.
“The children had so much fun!” said Olena. “They made us promise that we would come visit them again soon. Thank you, Kidsave, for giving us the opportunity to share a part of your love with these children!”
While things have changed drastically in Ukraine since the invasion in early 2022, Kidsave remains dedicated to its core work: helping children in need be seen, find family, and thrive.
Tatiana Stafford, Kidsave’s Vice President and Director of Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), spoke about the importance of the day, saying, “Every child has every right to be protected, develop, and learn for a better future. And today is not only a fun holiday for the children themselves, but also a reminder to society about the need to protect the rights of children, to strive for all children to grow up happy and become good parents and citizens of their country in the future. It is in children that the continuation of the human race and the realization of one’s dreams and hopes for the best are possible.”
Thanks to the tireless work of our team and support from our dedicated sponsors Boeing and KFC, Kidsave has continued its core work of placing orphans in families and providing mentorship and career-readiness training to older kids aging out of institutional care through the Pathway to Success program.
One of our most active participants and current President of the Mentoring Association Leadership Club is a young man named Vova Dorodko. Vova was one of the many Pathway to Success program participants volunteering at the International Children’s Day celebration. When asked about the day, he said this:
“It is hard to express all the emotions we felt at yesterday’s celebration with words. I am thrilled that we were able to create such an atmosphere and bring the same joyful spirit as in peaceful times for the children.
“I want to thank all of my colleagues and volunteers who put their hearts into it and did everything possible to ensure that every child left our event with gifts and filled with joy and happiness. Despite the challenges, we succeeded in organizing a true holiday that the children deserve. Every child deserves to be happy and have a loving family. Our team will do everything in our power to help every child have a mother and father and grow up in a family.
“Thanks to Kidsave and Sunrise of Dreams, the children had popcorn and cotton candy at the event, they all received wonderful gifts, danced, played games, took part in various contests and had lots of fun. It was a day of smiles, a day of joy that we brought to those kids. We sincerely appreciate everyone who gets involved and helps implement these projects. This is what I live for, and I am delighted to be able to contribute to this program!”
About Kidsave Ukraine
Kidsave began working in Ukraine in 2016 to find families for orphans and provide mentorship and support to teens aging out of institutional care. We implemented two programs: Family Mentoring, which places orphans and children deprived of parental care with loving Ukrainian families, and Corporate Mentoring, which helps older kids and teens successfully transition from institutional care to independent living. When the invasion began in February 2022, Kidsave’s team on the ground began working to develop a network of volunteers, now known as the Angels of Hope, to provide evacuation assistance and deliver humanitarian aid to those in need. This humanitarian effort has been very successful, with over 30,000 people evacuated and over 2,000 tons of aid delivered. To learn more about Kidsave’s work in Ukraine, visit www.kidsave.org/ukraine/.
