Kids of Ukraine: Restoring Childhood Amid War

The full-scale invasion has robbed millions of Ukrainian teenagers of their sense of safety and stability. Constant uncertainty, forced displacement, and chronic stress have deep psychological consequences that do not disappear over time. Despite significant attention to humanitarian needs, the mental state of children remains one of the least visible but most urgent problems.

The Kids of Ukraine charity foundation was established in 2022 as a response to this need. The organization works with teenagers whose lives have been significantly affected by the war, helping them to regain a sense of safety, trust, and inner strength. The idea for the foundation came about in the early days of the full-scale invasion. Artem Mazur, founder of Kids of Ukraine, recalls that while he was in a shelter under shelling, he and his friends were looking for practical ways to help other Ukrainians. On March 3, 2022, Kids of Ukraine was registered as a non-profit organization in the UK — at that time, state registries were not working in Ukraine. This was the beginning of the organization's mission: first with humanitarian aid, which later transformed into systematic psychosocial support and adaptation for children affected by the war. Since 2024, the foundation has been officially registered in Ukraine and also in the United States.

Today, Kids of Ukraine is a charity organization with four centers in Lviv, Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy, and Zhytomyr. Over 1,900 children and families have already received support from the foundation.

The organization's work is based on a complex approach to psychosocial support. The programs combine psychological assistance, educational and creative activities, physical rehabilitation, and real-life interaction with peers. The foundation works not only with teenagers but also with their families, viewing recovery as a joint process. 

This approach is formed through ongoing dialogue with the professional community. Kids of Ukraine is part of the national and European professional community, in particular through its membership in the Ukrainian Child Rights Network (UCRN) and the international organization Eurochild. The foundation is also a member of the Association of Charities of Ukraine, as an organization whose activities can be trusted.

In the context of war, Kids of Ukraine builds its work as a complete system of psychosocial support. The foundation implements three related programs that cover a range of needs, from psychological recovery to strengthening family bonds. At the center of this work is a belief in the potential of every child and the conviction that even after deep traumas, recovery is possible.

This understanding shaped the organization's mission: “restoring childhood.” This is daily practical work carried out by a team of 26 specialists: psychologists, administrators, a program director, and specialists in finance, fundraising, and communications. The quality and professional standards of the organization's activities are supported by the Council of Psychologists and the Advisory Board.

The realization of programs is made possible by grants, crowdfunding, donor support, and partnerships with businesses. In this way, Kids of Ukraine responds to children's needs for support and a real chance at recovery.

One of the foundation's major initiatives is the “SviTY” program, a long-term program of psychosocial support, adaptation, and socialization for teens, created in response to the loss of stability, social connections, and sense of safety that children have faced due to war and forced displacement and aimed at creating a space of unconditional acceptance and growth. The program is designed to last at least six months, which is the time needed for adaptation, building trust, and establishing friendly relationships in a new group. 

As the war continues and children may relive traumatic experiences or worsening psychological and emotional conditions, families have the opportunity to return to the program. The program runs in four Kids of Ukraine centers—in Lviv, Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy, and Zhytomyr—where 250–300 teenagers receive rehabilitation each year in each center.

The program was developed by professional psychologists, taking into consideration global best practices for working with children. Its realization is based on a restorative and trauma-sensitive approach and combines psychosocial support, group and individual sessions, and educational formats that help teens adapt, restore communication skills, and regain a sense of support in themselves and the world.

Educational activities within the program are aimed at helping teens reach their potential and supporting their independence. Teens are offered classes that match their real interests and needs: acting, English, sports, career guidance trainings, financial literacy, conflict resolution skills, self-presentation, and sex education. This approach helps children to get to know themselves better, realize their strengths, and see possible directions for personal and professional development.

The next step is practical experience. The program includes excursions, workshops, and master classes at the offices of leading companies and educational institutions in Ukraine. Teenagers have the opportunity to get to know different professional environments firsthand and, in some cases, to complete internships. This gives children their first real experience while still in adolescence, helping them to make more conscious choices about their future path, including their field of study and professional development.

“SviTY” works as a space of unconditional acceptance, where children can be themselves, try new things, and gradually return to an active social life. According to the organization's psychologists, about 97% of participants experience positive changes after taking part in the program.

A separate activity is summer rehabilitation camps in the Carpathian Mountains — an intensive form of work that combines professional psychological support, group interaction, activities, and unity with nature. This format helps teenagers restore their psycho-emotional state, strengthen social bonds, and regain confidence in their own abilities.

An important part of the work with families is Iryna Mazur's initiative, “Talk to Me, Body,” created for the mothers of participants in the “SviTY” program. The project focuses on psychological support through photography, helping women stabilize their emotional state and reconnect with themselves and their own resources. Supporting mothers enhances the effect of working with teenagers, creating a stable and supportive environment for the whole family.

All Kids of Ukraine programs function as a single support system, accompanying children and families through constant change. War does not have fixed stages, nor does the recovery process: the experiences that children bring with them can transform over time and require different levels of support. That is why the main principle of the foundation remains unchanged — all programs for children and their families are charitable, long-term, and based on the individual needs of each child. This model is possible due to constant interaction with donors, partners, and caring people who share the responsibility for restoring childhood in Ukraine. The foundation works systematically to attract financial support in order to maintain the sustainability of programs and the access of assistance for every family, regardless of circumstances.

Stability, regularity, and the presence of specialists create a space of trust in which true recovery and development are possible. In an unstable reality, Kids of Ukraine centers become a point of support — a place where childhood continues despite all the challenges of the present.

By supporting the foundation financially or joining as a donor, you become part of this support system—helping maintain a safe space where children can recover, grow, and hold on to hope for a better future.