CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S DAY WITH CITY24
Today, we celebrate International Children’s Day with our friends and partners City24. In honor of this day, three family-type children’s homes received gifts in the form of tablets! The families of Tetyana Oleksyuk, Anzhelika Sitchenko, and Yana Batyuk, raising 28 children, received five tablets for educational purposes, totaling 50,976 UAH.
International Children’s Day initiative aims to draw attention to the rights and well-being of children worldwide. It serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting children from violence and ensuring their rights to education, health, and a dignified life. As part of our support program for family-type children’s homes, we provide the necessary conditions for education, self-development, and acquiring new skills.
Today, due to russian military aggression, family-type children’s homes and large families require special attention, particularly those who lived in temporarily occupied territories or near the front lines, were forced to leave their homes, abandoning all property and household items, or have experienced significant economic changes, and thus need support.
In Tetyana Oleksyuk’s family, nine children aged 10 to 15 are being raised. All of them are school students, attend various art clubs, and are prize winners of city, regional, and national Olympiads, contests, and competitions. They love traveling, discovering new places, and playing the bandura and piano. Unfortunately, there are not enough technical devices for everyone, and children often have to take turns using a phone for their studies.
In Anzhelika Sitchenko’s family, there are 10 children. The couple took in their first child in 2006. “We currently have 10 children living with us, and another 10 have already grown up” says mother Anzhelika. The family lives in Pryluky, Chernihiv region, and the full-scale invasion has left a deep impact on the children due to the constant danger and explosions. Over time, the children have somewhat adapted to living in constant alert, but they dream of returning to their previous lives. “There are many needs in the family, sometimes it feels endless,” says Anzhelika, “which is why we need support.”
Nine children in Yana Batyuk’s family were forced to leave their school, friends, and home in Bilozerke, Donetsk region, due to russian military aggression. Initially abandoned by their parents, the war then took their home. Now, the family lives in Cherkasy, where they rent accommodation, significantly affecting their financial situation.
Stories like these demonstrate how genuine kindness and dedication can change lives for the better. Small steps help children find their path in this world and feel the warmth of a family despite all the difficulties. Therefore, supporting family-type children’s homes in Ukraine, as the most effective and humane form of care for children deprived of parental care, is crucial for nurturing a healthy and well-rounded nation. The truth lies in the seemingly clichéd phrase: children are our future.
