Laptop Donation Changes the Lives of Children in Ukraine
By Terra Hernandez
Amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, children and teenagers around the country continue to pursue an education, whether it be online or in a hybrid manner. However, children and teens living in orphanages or institutions have less access to technology than their peers. This limited access to technology means that children in foster care in Ukraine cannot stay caught up in their schooling,
which is a profound detriment.
To combat this issue and provide children in institutional care with the necessary resources to succeed, Kidsave’s donors across Europe endowed Kidsave with 145 laptops for Ukrainian children and teens. Kidsave’s Angels of Hope delivered these laptops to children in orphanages in Kyiv, Dnipro, and Mykolaiv. Angels of Hope also delivered laptops to the teens in Kidsave’s Corporate Mentoring program, Pathway to Success, in Kiev.
Otto Jelsma, a donor from the City Life Church in Leeuwarden, the Netherlands, said that he heard about the need for laptops from a friend, and immediately was inspired to give.
“We were able to provide many more laptops than we expected,” Jelsma said. “Seeing the children’s happy faces as they received the laptops is why we do it.”
The children and teens were surprised and grateful for the laptops. This generous gift will go a long way in helping these kids achieve their dreams.
Zakhar, Nazar, and Kamila are three siblings affected by the war in Ukraine that received laptops through this donation. These teenagers have lived through numerous shellings and airstrikes, yet still have a desire to learn and receive an education. They all received a laptop of their own, which will allow them to attend online classes and complete their homework to succeed in school.
About Kidsave in Ukraine
Kidsave’s Corporate Mentoring program, Pathway to Success, continues to provide older children and teens in institutional with mentorship and support despite the ongoing war in Ukraine. Youth who are exiting or soon to exit institutional care are paired with adult mentors in their community that provide job training, professional mentorship, educational and career opportunities, financial planning assistance, and emotional support.
Since the start of the war, Kidsave has also undertaken humanitarian work alongside its core work in Ukraine. Kidsave’s Angels of Hope work to provide rescue and evacuation and humanitarian aid to those affected by the war. To date, Kidsave has evacuated over 30,000 people to safety and delivered over 1,000 tons of humanitarian aid.
You can learn more about our life-changing work in Ukraine here.
