The war in Ukraine re-focused and diversified our work for obvious reasons. Our general and community support projects are now more important than ever. Per our war-time strategy we currently operate in five selected communities in Ukraine, which were finalized in November 2022. From December 2022 till September 2023 no less than 500 Ukrainian orphans, children living near frontlines, children with disabilities, children who lost one or both parents in the war, children who had to evacuate due to the war, children from extremely poor families received assistance and sponsorship support through these regional projects.
First focus area is in the Kirovograd region Haivoron district, a traditionally poor area in the center of Ukraine, which has been accepting a big flow of internally displaced families with children from the war areas. In addition to child sponsorship we are beginning to repair and upgrade the children department of a local hospital. Hundreds of children will soon be able to receive better services in this hospital as well as find new sponsors. See video/photo reports from Kirovograd focus area.
Second focus area is the Lviv region with focus on Rybnyk and nearby remote mountain villages in western Ukraine. This region has historically been very poor. Thousands of men and women in this region have been pushed to seek employment abroad for decades. The war combined with job difficulties brought poverty to a new, most acute level. After the Russian aggression started in February 2022 this region also accepted many refugees and children from war affected areas. In addition to child sponsorship we are beginning to launch a children resource center to provide multiple services to at-risk children in these villages. Hundreds of children will soon be able to receive psychological support, rehabilitation services, participate in various after school activities, learn new skills and have more fun in their lives as well as find new individual sponsors. See video/photo reports from Lviv focus area.
Third focus area is in the Donetsk/Donbass region, is the South-East of Ukraine, not far from the battlefield line. Children there live in dire conditions as shelling and other war horrors have been ongoing close to their homes since February 2022. We provide humanitarian assistance to children and families in this region during these hardest times in its history See video/photo reports from Donetsk/Donbass region focus area.
Fourth focus area is in the Kherson region of, one of the de-occupied war areas of Ukraine. Kherson region is the gateway to Crimea and was conquered by Russian forces in February — March 2022, but several months later this part of Kherson region was regained by Ukrainian troops. Children who remained there live close to the battlefield line, in dire conditions. Any humanitarian assistance that can reach these difficult areas is very much needed and appreciated! We take the risk to work in several villages not covered by other humanitarian groups See video/photo reports from Kherson region focus area.
Fifth target community is in Chernivtsi, in the west of Ukraine with focus on a local boarding school, which accepted a big flow of internally displaced children from the war areas. 400 children reside in this boarding school today. We help the boarding school via our humanitarian projects so that children can have more fun in their lives as well as find new individual sponsors See video/photo reports from Chernivtsi focus area.
The war in Ukraine obviously changed the focus of our work. We currently operate in 4 selected communities in Ukraine, which were chosen in October 2022. In February 2023 we launched an additional new project in one of the de-occupied war areas of Ukraine.
In addition to individual child sponsorships we implement general projects supporting the vulnerable children in these 4 communities. From December 1, 2022 till March 1, 2023 no less than 278 Ukrainian orphans, children living near war frontlines, children with disabilities, children who lost one or both parents in the war, children who had to evacuate due to the war, children from extremely poor families received assistance and sponsorship support through our program.
First community is the South-Eastern region of Ukraine, not far from the battlefield line. See video/photo reports from first focus area.
Second focus region is a traditionally poor area in the center of Ukraine, which accepted a big flow of internally displaced families with children from the war areas. See video/photo reports from second focus area.
Third and fourth focus areas are in western Ukraine which accepted many internally resettled families with children and includes a remote mountain village, historically very poor. War and job difficulties brought poverty to a new, most acute level. See video/photo reports from third and fourth focus areas.