Children’s Living Places has taken its first step in Ukraine. With construction underway and strong partnerships in place, the project marks an important milestone in the effort to rethink child care in Ukraine.
On 14 October, the first groundbreaking ceremony for Children’s Living Places took place in Dubliany – a suburb of Lviv in western Ukraine.
On the construction site, where new family-based care homes and a social centre will soon be built, partners, local authorities, foster families and neighbours gathered to mark the beginning of a joint project aimed at rethinking care for children in Ukraine.
Children’s Living Places aims to take a leading role in reforming the childcare system in Ukraine, promoting preventive social work and alternative family-based care for children without parental care, rather than placement in institutions. At the same time, the project contributes to rebuilding homes and communities affected by the war.
The homes are being built according to the principles of the Living Places concept, an open-source concept developed by the VELUX Group, EFFEKT architects and Artelia engineers, aimed to create healthier, more sustainable homes.
The first site in Dubliany includes homes for foster families and a social centre that will provide services to both foster families and other families in the local community.
Read more about the project Children’s Living Places
The day after the groundbreaking, partners, authorities, professionals and foster families came together for a series of panel discussions on key themes in the project. The aim was to ensure that both professional expertise and practical experience are integrated into the development of Children’s Living Places.
Discussions included the development of the childcare sector, architectural and technical solutions, and inclusive practices for children with disabilities.
Construction in Dubliany is expected to be completed in early 2026. The second and third locations for Children’s Living Places will be announced later the same year.
With construction underway and strong partnerships in place, Children’s Living Places is well on its way towards the shared goal of rethinking child care in Ukraine.
The coalition behind Children’s Living Places consists of SOS Children’s Villages in Ukraine, SOS Children’s Villages in Denmark, the Villum Foundation, Viessmann Foundation, Grundfos Foundation, Bitten & Mads Clausen Foundation, DOVISTA, Somfy Foundation, VELUX Ukraine, Artelia, Kromann Reumert, DFDS, iC Cube, Archymatyka and the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark (EIFO).
We are surrounded by people who have chosen not just to talk about making a difference, but to act – and here, we act for the children of Ukraine
