A meeting was arranged for 9-year-old Vladyslav with his idols – the famous illusionists “Magic Five”. For 11-year-old Elizaveta, they gave a laptop, which the girl dreamed of, for studying. 13-year-old Darya got the opportunity to try herself as a photo model and take her first steps in modeling. And 15-year-old Mykhailo and 9-year-old Hyera were able to meet their favorite actor and comedian Yevhen Koshov.
“The heroes of our project are children who are going through the war, probably the hardest. After all, she took one of their parents. But children should feel the support of adults in spite of everything. We cannot change the past and make these stories never happen, but we can make the dreams of the project participants come true now. Because, by and large, this is what we are fighting for: the confidence, strength and faith of our children,” comments Tetyana Volochai, director of the “MHP – Community” charitable foundation.
Each story is a tragedy of one family. Vladyslav from Kanev’s father died in the war. Daria’s father was shot by a drunken occupier right on the street. After the tragedy, he and his mother moved from Zaporizhzhia region to Kyiv region to live with relatives. The father of two brothers from Mariupol was killed by a sniper near the house. Now they live in Lviv. And Lisa’s father died during a Russian missile attack in Kramatorsk. He and his mother miraculously survived and moved to live with relatives in the Vinnytsia region.
“It is difficult to establish the exact number of children who were left without parents after February 24, but we are talking about thousands of such tragedies. That is why we have focused our work on overcoming trauma and providing support to children. Because they do not influence the situation, cannot make decisions, often do not understand what is happening and why. However, we can help them with psychological support, training, clothing, and equipment. We can make their dreams come true. And in this way to show that Ukrainians are united. It is difficult for us, but we invest in our future, in our children. After all, they are all ours,” emphasizes Anna Khomenko, executive director of the “Children of Heroes” charitable foundation.
Anna Khomenko
Co-Founder, Head of Execution Team
