Programs & Initiatives
Assistance for Children and Parents
We respond to children's diverse needs, listen to them, and provide timely, professional help tailored to their requests.
Read more
Strengthening Communities and Children's Institutions
Together with communities and local businesses, we create inclusive spaces, playgrounds, sensory rooms, and hubs for children and teenagers.
Read more
Professional Support
We strengthen international connections and initiate our own initiatives aimed at amplifying children's voices and participation.
Read more
Advocacy
We amplify the voices of children through social campaigns, research and analytics.
 
Read more
Childhood Center
The Foundation will build a large-scale rehabilitation center for children and parents affected by the war.
Read more
Camps
Our camps are, first and foremost, psychosocial support for children — delivered as a residential program.
Read more
Eng
Ukr
All news
24.07.2024
Foundation news

The "Voices of Children" Foundation has Launched the "Bring Joy to Ukraine's Defenders' Children" Project

One of the key focuses of the "Voices of Children" Charitable Foundation is supporting families of military personnel. To assist children from these families, our team has launched the "Bring Joy to Ukraine's Defenders' Children" project.
The project aims to raise funds to organize surprise birthday celebrations for 50 children whose parents have fallen in combat, are held captive, are missing in action, or are suffering severe injuries.
It takes up to 8,000 hryvnias (approximately $200) to organize a birthday celebration for a child in Ukraine's most remote areas. Join our fundraiser to help bring joy to children who truly need it!

What does the celebration include?

The "Bring Joy to Ukraine's Defenders' Children" project is more than just a birthday gift. The core idea is to create a surprise celebration: children receive their desired presents in a special way,

explained Maria Svyrydenko-Novak, the Foundation's Project Manager.
In order to congratulate the child in the best possible way, our "Voices of Children" team first consults with the child's relatives to learn about the birthday boy or girl's preferences and dreams. This personalized approach is invaluable and creates unforgettable memories.
I wanted to thank you for these amazing emotions and gifts. We loved it so much. Thank you for giving us these moments of happiness!

wrote Daria, mother of 2-year-old Dana.
When possible, we include a performer dressed as the child's favorite character to present the dream gift, along with balloons or flowers, and sweets. If this is not possible, Foundation representatives or family members step in to deliver the gifts.
The
The
Importantly, we are greeting defenders' children from all regions and settlements of Ukraine, ensuring even the most remote villages and towns are not overlooked.

Project milestones results

Thanks to the "Bring Joy to Ukraine's Defenders' Children" project we have already managed to celebrate six birthday boys and girls:
  • 4-year-old Victoriia
  • 17-year-old Roman
  • 2-year-old Dana
  • 14-year-old Daria
  • 6-year-old Anna and her 5-year-old brother, Sashko.
There are so many beautiful photos and, most importantly, so much positive emotion. Thank you!

said Oksana, mother of 6-year-old Anna and 5-year-old Sashko.
The
The
The
Some of these families have participated in the Foundation's custom-designed rehabilitation program, "CAMP+". This program has been approved and recommended for implementation by the Ukrainian Scientific and Methodological Center for Practical Psychology and Social Work.
Nothing can make up for the loss of loved ones, but these photos show that, for a few moments at least, the children were filled with joy from an unexpected and much-welcomed greeting.
The
The
Voisyk, the mascot cat of "Voices of Children", also helped organize the celebrations.
The
The
Share:
Facebook LinkedIn Twitter (X) Copy link
Latest news
August at Voices of Children: Youth Retreat, Celebrity Visits, and the End of the Camp Season

August was a really eventful month at the Foundation, even as Russian attacks across Ukraine intensified and children and their families spent many nights in shelters. Sessions continued at our regional centers, along with outreach visits to communities. For the first time, alumni of all our art residencies came together in the Carpathians, while Liev Schreiber and Katheryn Winnick visited our Kyiv center. Well-known Ukrainians read poems by our teenagers, the “Thread” photo exhibition set off on a tour through Ukrposhta branches, the summer camp season came to an end, and together with the band Hyphen Dash, we completed a fundraiser for psychological support. Here is a closer look at each of these events.

“Hold Fast to Life”: Actress Katheryn Winnick Meets Ukrainian Children Affected by the Russian War in Kyiv
Canadian actress and director of Ukrainian descent, best known for her roles as Lagertha in Vikings and Hannah Burley in Bones, came to Kyiv ahead of Ukraine’s Independence Day. While here, she visited our center and met children, including those who had lived through Russian occupation and those forced to leave their homes because of the war. The night before the visit was a difficult one: air raid sirens woke the team in the middle of the night. Katheryn recalled that her “heart rate was pounding, coming out of her chest.” 
For the First Time Ever: Voices of Children Brings Together Alumni of All Its Arts Residencies
For six days in August, a bar appeared in the Carpathians where you paid for tea not with money, but with leaves from the trees. Nearby, teenagers flew kites against the mountain backdrop, while every evening brought live music. This was the Youth Retreat — a major gathering that brought together alumni of the Voices of Children Foundation’s arts labs from across Ukraine. Each of these teenagers had previously taken part in one of our creative residencies. This time, for the first time, they all came together in one place.