This week’s targeted attacks on Kyiv’s energy infrastructure are a cruel reminder of the harsh reality of life in war-torn Ukraine. As winter’s cold tightens its grip, the crisis grows ever more urgent. Night after night, families tremble in the darkness as air strikes destroy power grids and energy infrastructure, not only in large cities like Kyiv and Chernihiv, but also in small towns and villages that had never heard the sound of explosions before.
Children are killed here almost every day. Hundreds of thousands of homes are left without heat, light or running water and the toll is tragic: lives lost, injuries mounting, and children and parents alike watching the temperature drop with rising fear.
In the face of this brutality, a different story is unfolding too – one of steadfast resolve, solidarity and humanity. The spectre of war has not extinguished hope, but it has redefined it. This isn’t just about survival, it’s about standing with families as they endure violence, displacement and the harshest winter of their lives.
We want to take this moment to acknowledge the huge sacrifices that so many families have made, and pay tribute to the incredible dedication and courage that we have seen the people of Ukraine display, day-in and day-out.
Our work in the region
For the last three years, Home and Homes for Children’s staff and partners have been on the ground in Ukraine, Romania and Moldova, helping shattered families to get the essential support they need to survive and rebuild their lives.
From providing food packages and baby supplies, to sourcing counselling and creating foster families, our teams in Moldova, Romania and Ukraine itself have worked tirelessly to support people in Ukraine who been caught up in this conflict, and those forced to pack up their lives and flee to safety in other countries.
To date across the three countries, our teams have been able to support 84,855 children and 70,465 adults whose lives have been thrown into chaos by this war.
Supporting in Ukraine
Our teams in Ukraine are incredible. They have witnessed atrocities, experienced trauma, had their everyday lives turned upside down and faced huge personal risk – yet their determination to help others has never wavered.
From running a Miracle Bus service that allows children whose lives have been thrown into turmoil to enjoy the simple childhood joys of play, happiness and laughter, to providing solace and support to those who have lost loved ones, their commitment to supporting children and their families is truly inspiring.
Just this month, despite the constant shelling in the Dnipropetrovsk region, our team ran a training course for prospective foster parents, family-style caregivers, and guardians/carers. The course focused on caring for orphans and children deprived of parental care because sadly, with the ongoing conflict, the need grows greater each day.
It is only thanks to their dedication, professionalism and bravery that since the full-scale war began in Ukraine we have been able to:
- Provide in-depth support and prevention services for 16,599 children in 8,345 families.
- Support 288 children evacuated from orphanages due to the war to stay in families rather than be placed in institutions.
- Support 150 children from orphanages transition back to their own or alternative families
- Set up 29 mobile teams, which have given support to 27,323 children in 17,612 families.
- Establish 11 counselling points – providing assistance to 18,317 children and their families.
- Create 13 sites for families with young children to take classes with local support services – helping over 8,900 children.
- Train 526 people as candidates to become foster carers or guardians.
- Train 2,528 professionals and giving 307 social workers support through supervision.
Of course, these numbers can’t adequately express each of the individual personal stories that lie behind them. Nothing truly can. But for as long as this conflict continues, and as long as our support is needed, we’ll continue to be there for the children and families who need us.
We’d particularly like to thank UBS Optimus Foundation, UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, World Childhood Foundation, European Commission, UNICEF, Save the Children and Zurich Insurance, Dorothea Haus Ross Foundation, St. James’s Place Foundation and Clifford Chance who, alongside our incredible supporters, have made this work possible.
If you’d like to make a gift to support our work getting children in Ukraine and around the world Back to Family, please donate today.
