Ukraine

Orphans and Vulnerable Children and Families in Ukraine Need Your Help

Raise Up Ukraine

Funds are critically needed to provide the assurance of food, shelter and trauma care to vulnerable families.

Prior to the invasion on February 24, 2022, there were over 100,000 orphans in Ukraine.

since then, there ARE an estimated 65,000 more.

*DATA GATHERED IN 2024, UPDATED ANNUALLY

3,300 orphans sent abroad and 503 orphans left in orphanages.

Over 1,700 children have lost parents in the war.

Poverty rates skyrocketed from 5% to 25%.

Approximately 19,500 children have been deported and/or forcibly displaced.

Tragically, we know that orphans and vulnerable children and families will be impacted the hardest by this crisis. As conflicts continue the need to safely evacuate, care for, and provide for the orphans and vulnerable children and families of Ukraine is greater than ever before!

Over thirteen years ago, A Family for Every Orphan began serving vulnerable children and families in Ukraine. Today, we have a dozen Christian partners spread across the country that are providing emergency relief services to thousands of children and families in Ukraine, while ministering to their spiritual needs.

Our partners in Ukraine are working tirelessly to evacuate these children to safety in the west and across the border, ensure food and necessities are provided, and minister to and help vulnerable children and families who stayed behind. This vital work cannot be done without your support!

OUR APPROACH

Strengthening at-risk families.

Mobilizing churches and Christian communities to support children and families.

Supporting orphans to find loving families.

Trauma care services and psychological aid.

Rescuing children who have been abducted to Russia and reuniting them with their families.

We are working with a dozen partners throughout Ukraine who lead >400 team members and serve >2,000 people per day.

MORE ON CARE REFORM

Care Reform in Ukraine

As eastern Ukraine remains under heavy conflict, all evacuations and other support services remain critical. In addition, as refugees from the east continue to settle in more stable regions in central and western Ukraine, and millions of Ukrainians have returned to Ukraine, millions are desperately trying to find employment and restart their lives. Family strengthening efforts have expanded exponentially.

Tragically, we know thousands more children have been orphaned since the start of the war. Our partners continue to raise up and support foster and adoptive families and advocate to see more children placed in families, not in institutions.

Seeing children placed in families and not institutions is a desire not only of AFFEO, but of President Zelensky and first lady Olena Zelenska. In alignment with other members of the EU, Ukraine has committed to shift away from a system of institutionalization for children without parental care and move toward a system of family-based care.

It is a significant undertaking in a time of war, but a necessary one to ensure children are protected and given the right to grow up in a safe and loving family.

Some specific ways that AFFEO partners protect children and stabilize families and communities to advance family-based care:

Build capacity for psychosocial support services for children and caregivers, along with social work and case management services,
Provide livelihood support to families in need,,
Provide evacuation from combat zones and rescue Ukrainian children deported to Russia,
Provide humanitarian aid to displaced persons,
Provide shelter, counseling, and rehabilitation services for children and families who have experienced the worst trauma from war, including children rescued from Russian camps,
Provide safe places and programs for child development, life skills training for aged-out teens, and trauma care training for caregivers,
Empower local NGOs and faith-based organization to care for orphans, children in need of parental care, and families in crisis,
Provide legal support to victims of abuse and advocate for children’s rights,
Raise awareness to children in need of parental care and equip foster and adoptive parents,
And much more!

How you can get involved

Pray

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Give

Any amount you give makes a difference in the lives of orphans and vulnerable children in Ukraine

"Show your unfailing love in wonderful ways. By your mighty power you rescue those who seek refuge from their enemies. Guard me as you would guard your own eyes. Hide me in the shadow of your wings.”

Psalm 17:7-8