“There is always light. If only we're brave enough to see it. If only we're brave enough to be it.” – Amanda Gorman
As the war in Ukraine continues, there is much to grieve. However, thanks to our dedicated supporters, we have created moments of light for the children in our programs.
Corporate Mentoring
Kidsave's Corporate Mentoring program, Pathway to Success, connects older youth aging out of institutional care with mentors, continuing education opportunities, and professional development. Recently, the group visited BASF, one of our corporate partners and a leading company in agriculture and sustainability.
At BASF, the youth encountered skilled professionals who shared inspirational stories and experiences with them. They engaged with experts and learned more about BASF's operations, areas of work, and ongoing development opportunities. They also had the unique chance to immerse themselves in the world of agriculture through virtual reality goggles, which transported them directly into the agro-center and a working field.
The kids were captivated by the experience and wanted to stay!
One participant, 16-year-old Vanya, said, “It was interesting to learn about the company, and I enjoyed the atmosphere and the team. It was fascinating to talk to the IT specialist.”
In addition to operating the Corporate Mentoring program, Kidsave serves as Co-Founder and member of the Ukrainian Mentoring Association. In March, the Mentoring Association participated in a panel discussion with government committee members, leaders in social policy, representatives of local nongovernmental organizations, and administrations to discuss improving mechanisms for mentoring children across Ukraine.
The Mentoring Association presented on the Pathway to Success program and its effective way of connecting older youth with mentors in their communities. A representative from one of our long-term corporate partners, KFC, spoke and highlighted the crucial role businesses play in supporting vulnerable youth through programs like Pathway to Success.
When reflecting on this meeting and the ongoing work of the Pathway to Success program, Nata Kravchuk, Head of Kidsave's Ukraine subdivision, says, “Mentoring is more than just sharing knowledge and skills. It is about support, inspiration, and a shared journey towards a successful future for the younger generation.”
The Kidsave Miracles Center
Opened in the summer of 2024, the Kidsave Miracles Center has been serving orphans and children separated from their families due to the ongoing war for nearly ten months now. The first cohort of children spent the summer at the Miracles Center, taking advantage of its playground and soccer field and working with trauma therapist Tetiana Koval.
In December, a second group of children arrived at the Miracles Center to spend the winter months in safety, having been evacuated from the hostilities in the Mykolaiv region. While at the Center, the children had the opportunity to recover, develop new skills, and experience the support of a team of specialists.
One key element of their stay was participating in art and play therapy. Art and play therapy are innovative ways to help reconnect traumatized children with their imagination, playfulness, and emotions. These practices help improve the children's mental health and develop resilience for future situations. It also creates an atmosphere of joy and laughter—something these children have not been able to experience since the war began.
The Kidsave Miracles Center is also a place where individuals can receive training on Kidsave's Family Visit Model, best practices for mentoring youth, and trauma-informed practices. This quarter, graduates from our Pathway to Success program, known as Supermentors, organized a training session for youth experiencing trauma on maintaining their mental health and recovery in conditions of tension or anxiety due to war. The training included a “Self-Help Kit” and used a peer-to-peer method to engage participants in discussions around resources, shared experiences, and effective coping strategies. The Miracles Center was created to be a haven for children and youth, particularly during this difficult time in Ukraine.
Finding Families for Children in Care
One of the main goals of our work in Ukraine is to move children out of crowded orphanages and institutions and into families. While this aspect of our mission has been challenging during the war, we have persisted with the help and cooperation of local government agencies and child welfare specialists.
So far this year, our team has found families for seven children. The first was a 4-year-old girl who we placed with a loving adoptive family. The other six were all siblings from the same family. Siblings are often not separated in Ukraine, so it was challenging to find an adoptive family that could take all of them. Kidsave's partners and adoptive parents, Pavlo and Olena Shulha, opened their home to these children so they could remain together. Additionally, three of the children who spent the winter holidays at the Miracles Center have since been reunited with their biological family.
Our team is working to identify and recruit foster or adoptive parents to place more children with families in Ukraine. Additionally, our team in Ukraine is working to develop their own Weekend Miracles program to connect these children with loving families in their local community. The safety of all involved is our number one priority, and the inaugural event for this program has had to be postponed due to safety concerns. We hope conditions will stabilize, and our team can launch this new initiative to help more orphans in Ukraine find loving forever families.
