ADRA Kids is a new project by the charitable organization ADRA Ukraine, aimed at supporting children affected by the war.

— Maryna, tell us a little about your work and the project you lead.

— I joined this project not long ago. Before me, it was coordinated by Olga Makarchuk, who put a lot of effort into its creation. It’s a great honor for me to be part of such an important initiative. The war has left deep scars on children: they’ve lost stability, friends, and the sense of safety. Many live in constant stress, witnessing relocations and separation from parents. We, as adults, must support them now so they can grow up without deep trauma and with faith in a peaceful future.

— How did the idea of ADRA Kids come about?

— It was born out of reality itself. Every day we see how the war has taken not only homes but also the very sense of childhood away from children. Alongside humanitarian aid, we must pay attention to children’s emotions, dreams, and needs. That’s why ADRA Kids became a natural continuation of ADRA Ukraine’s work — a way to show children that they are not forgotten and that they are cared for.

— What is the main goal of the initiative?

— We aim to help children affected by the war regain inner balance, find joy, and rediscover motivation for growth. We want every child to feel that there are caring adults nearby. After all, the future of Ukraine depends on how much this generation preserves its ability to love and create. Our ambitious goal is to help 100,000 children regain psychological balance, socialize, and rediscover the joy of childhood.

— How is ADRA Kids different from previous ADRA Ukraine programs for children?

— We’ve supported children before — since 2014, over 50,000 Ukrainian children have received gifts with the support of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Previously, we didn’t assemble the gift boxes ourselves — we sent empty boxes to local Adventist congregations, where people filled them with presents, and ADRA Ukraine distributed them to children. Now, within ADRA Kids, we create the gift sets ourselves.

Also, activities that were previously separate components of various projects (for example, 22,000 psychological consultations for children) are now united under one holistic program dedicated entirely to children. Thus, ADRA Kids combines psychological support, leisure activities, creative clubs, and social adaptation — along with wonderful gifts. The project doesn’t have a specific donor; we’re seeking partners among businesses, NGOs, philanthropists, and anyone willing to join.

— Which children are covered by the program?

— These are children of veterans* (former military personnel), children who have lost one or both parents, internally displaced children, and those who were injured or otherwise affected by the war. All of them are among the most vulnerable. We want to help them regain trust in the world.

— What types of assistance are provided?

— Not only gifts but attention — something children deeply need. This includes psychological support (both online and in centers), extracurricular education, camps, creative and sports clubs, and social events.

We’ve already designed six types of gift sets for two age groups — 6–9 and 10–14 (three sets for each group). For instance, the “Art Master” set includes a canvas, sketchbook, and markers, while the “Athlete” set includes a volleyball, tennis rackets, a water bottle, and a T-shirt.

We want each child to feel unique, so the sets vary, and the choice depends on the child’s interests.

— You mentioned creative clubs. What will that look like?

— We plan a range of directions — from language learning to IT and programming. Specific courses will be determined after surveying children and parents to match their needs and age.

— What are the first results so far?

— We began with a major event — the project launch in Kyiv at the Cossack Village “Mamayeva Sloboda” on September 28. The event was attended by children of veterans*, who received 149 gift sets purchased through donations made on the project’s website.

Younger children under six painted on the “Dream Wall” and participated in quests, while parents joined a psychological workshop by Healthy 360, creating guardian angels.

Among the guests was Mykola Kuleba, the Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights (2014–2021) and founder of Save Ukraine. Recalling the missile attack Kyiv endured the night before the event, he said:

“Adults — you can see they didn’t sleep, they were worried about their families. But the children — they smile and rejoice. It’s vital for us to help restore their lives. I want to wish you, adults, to sometimes look at hardships more simply — like children do. We must be strong for them.”

He also expressed readiness to support the ADRA Kids initiative.

Another guest, Olena Luhantseva, mentoring program assistant and leader of the Supermentors community of the Association for Mentorship of Children and Youth, emphasized the importance of such events and expressed willingness to cooperate.

There were creative surprises as well.

Anzhelika Rudnytska, a Merited Artist of Ukraine, shared:

“Today I was invited to a fancy party in Lviv — and at the same time ADRA asked me to perform for the children of our heroes. Guess which one I chose?”

She performed together with Sofiia Nersesian, a young singer and volunteer who has already raised over 15 million hryvnias to support Ukraine (by the way, Sofiia recently won the national selection for Junior Eurovision 2025 with her song “Motanka.” The contest will take place in December in Georgia).

The event included games, contests, and activities for both children and parents. Many kids received not just gifts but warmth, attention, and care.

— What feedback did parents share?

— They wrote us words of incredible gratitude:

“You gave not just gifts, but an atmosphere of care, joy, and support. It’s priceless to see the happy smiles of our children. May this project continue to give back childhood and hope for a bright future.”

Another mother shared:

“Many thanks for the wonderful celebration for our children and the amazing workshop for moms. The angel we created with your help will always travel with our family.”

Parents thanked us for the laughter, shining eyes, new friendships, and emotions. One mother wrote that for the first time in a long while, she spent a full day together with her husband and child — that was a true gift for the whole family.

— How many people were involved in organizing the event?

— Around 30 people — volunteers, the technical team, coordinators, and drivers. Each made their contribution to this good cause.

— Not everyone in society is ready to donate to children’s initiatives. Why, and how can this be changed?

— Most of society’s attention today is focused on the military and humanitarian aid for adults. But children are those who will live with the consequences of war for many years.

We can shift this mindset through real stories — by showing how such events affect children, how much joy a bit of attention, a gift, or simple care brings. People will then realize that these are not “small things for kids,” but the foundation of our future.

— How can people donate?

— It’s very simple — through the website or directly: via this link.

We also actively share updates on social media, especially Instagram, and invite everyone to join.

— And if someone wants to help not with money?

— That’s possible too. We need volunteers, craftsmen, psychologists, teachers, and animators. If you have skills you can share with children — we need you. We’re open to cooperation and always happy to welcome new people.

— What are your plans for the coming year?

— Expansion. We want to extend the project’s reach, provide psychological support to more children, and involve businesses and communities. We’re starting in the Kyiv region, but our focus includes Kharkiv, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia  regions. The project will eventually cover all of Ukraine.

— What are the biggest challenges your team faces?

— The main one is funding. We have many ideas and a motivated team, but without resources, it’s hard to move fast. We’re actively seeking partners and have no plans to stop.

— Finally, what does “giving back childhood” mean to you personally?

— I’m a mother of two and I understand how much a parent’s emotional state affects children. The war has taken away our peace, but projects like this are a kind of “magic wand.” They help bring smiles, attention, and faith in goodness back to children. They remind them they are not alone, that they are needed in this world — and that’s the most important thing.

* The term “veteran” is used exclusively for persons discharged from military service.