How are you and are you safe?  Â
Since 2022, when someone in Ukraine asks, “How are you?” the most common answer is, “We are holding on.” And at SOS Children’s Villages Ukraine, we truly are – staying strong, adapting, and doing our work every day. Â
As for safety, it’s hard to say what’s truly safe in Ukraine right now, but we take all possible precautions and stay alert. When air alarms go off, we move to safer places – shelters, underground parking areas, or simply follow the “rule of two walls.” Â
We’ve also learned a lot about safety and first aid, making sure all of us here – kids, parents, and co-workers know what to do. Like most Ukrainians, we keep power banks, flashlights, and supplies ready in case of outages. Â
In times like these, knowing what to do and having a safe place to go helps us feel more secure. Â
Are the children safe? How are they doing?  Â
Right now, we support more than 140 children in foster families. They are surrounded by their caring foster parents and have warm, cozy homes. They go to local schools and do their best to learn – with our support – despite all the uncertainties. Â
Even in times of war, children still find moments of joy and play, and we do our best to create those opportunities. They take part in creative workshops, celebrate Ukrainian traditions, go on excursions and picnics, and learn new skills in trainings. Â
For better safety, we’ve built land shelters near family homes in the SOS Children’s Village in Brovary, Kyiv region. We also make sure both children and parents are well-prepared, regularly teaching them about safety rules, first aid, and the dangers of landmines. Â
Where are the children now?  Â
Some of our foster families have remained abroad in evacuation since 2022, and we continue supporting them from a distance. Â
Others have returned home and are now in Ukraine, where they receive our direct care. Â
We also welcome new children into our foster families, most often from southern and eastern regions heavily affected by the war. Many of them arrive in need of significant psychological support and medical care, and we do our best to provide them with everything they need. Â
What are you doing to help the children / what is the biggest need you see right now for them?  Â
The ongoing war affects all children, but those who have lost parental care or come from struggling families suffer the most. Â
Many children find it harder to concentrate and learn due to constant anxiety and irregular schooling. They are expected to study more on their own, but for those with traumatic experiences – especially those who have missed school for long periods due to the war – this can be extremely difficult. Extra educational support and help from teachers in core subjects give them a chance to catch up and rebuild their confidence. Â
At the same time, the number of struggling biological families in Ukraine is growing. For many children, something as simple as a new pair of boots and a series of sessions with a psychologist or speech therapist can be lifechanging. Â
Our speech therapists are seeing a growing number of children developing speech disorders due to fear and trauma. Every day, we receive heartfelt thanks from parents for psychological support – whether it’s individual or group counseling, body-oriented therapy, art therapy, or psychotherapy, tailored to each child’s needs. Â
Right now, psychological support remains one of the biggest needs for children and families, along with material aid for essential supplies. Â
Et kunsthold for børn, hvor de kan fĂĄ nye venner, socialisere og være kreativiter. For familier, der er blevet fordrevet pĂĄ grund af krigen, er denne mulighed særligt værdifuld, da de ofte føler sig som fremmede i et nyt sted.”Â
Maryna krammer sit yndlingsplysdyr i sit nye hjem i Brovary. Hendes plejefamilie flygtede fra deres besatte hjemby i det sydlige Ukraine og flyttede til SOS Børnebyerne i Kyiv-regionen/Brovary. Maryna elsker at lære og drømmer om at kunne skrive hele ord og sætninger. Hun har for nylig gjort store fremskridt i sin udvikling.
I et socialt center for udsatte familier hjælper en lærer et førskolebarn med en opgave med at forbedre sine tænkeevner og viden, der er nødvendig for hendes alder. At overvinde indlæringsvanskeligheder hjælper børnene til at føle sig mere sikre på sig selv og klare sig bedre i skolen.
Siden krigens begyndelse har SOS Børnebyerne etableret mere end 60 børnevenlige områder i Ukraine – små oaser af normalitet i en kaotisk tid. Her kan børn mødes og lege. Samtidig arbejder vi for at nå børn i afsidesliggende områder og hjælpe børn og familier med at bearbejde stress og angst.
