The Fourth Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen, organized by First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska, occurred in Kyiv. This year’s theme, “Protecting Children: Guarantees of a Safe Future,” highlights the importance of supporting children who have lost their parents due to the war, aligning with the core mission of our Fund.
At the Summit, Tetiana Novytska, CEO of the Children of Heroes Charity Fund, held a series of meetings with representatives from the public and state sectors and international organizations. They discussed further cooperation to protect children who have suffered losses due to war. She emphasized, “This Summit is an important platform for creating new solutions to ensure a safe future for children affected by war. We must join forces to guarantee their protection, development, and well-being.”
One of the most poignant moments of the Summit was the speech by 18-year-old Vyacheslav Yalov, who took custody of his four younger siblings after a Russian shell killed his mother. In his emotional address, he said: “My mom said everything would be fine. I work every day to make sure everything is fine.”
The summit concluded with the signing of a joint declaration on the protection of children’s rights, prioritizing their safety in families, schools, and cyberspace, as well as during war. This event reaffirmed the international community’s commitment to working together to create a safe and brighter future for children.
