The First Lady of Ukraine, together with the team of the Olena Zelenska Foundation and partners, visited large foster families in the Poltava region who received humanitarian aid from the Foundation this autumn.
Since its establishment, the Olena Zelenska Foundation has been systematically supporting large foster families across different regions of Ukraine, including those living in frontline and de-occupied territories, as well as internally displaced families and families that have received housing through state budget subsidies.
“Humanitarian assistance for large foster families is an example of how meaningful support can change the lives of entire households. This is one of the areas of the Foundation’s work, because we want every child to have a home, care, and the opportunity to grow. For us, it is important not only to respond to urgent needs but also to create lasting conditions in which children grow up surrounded by love, safety, and support. Thanks to such partnerships and joint initiatives, more than 600 families have already received essential humanitarian assistance,” noted Olena Zelenska.
One of these families is the large foster family of Olena Husarenko, who is raising nine children, five of whom are biological siblings. The family was visited by Olena Zelenska, the Foundation’s team, and Munir Mammadzade, UNICEF Representative to Ukraine.
Using state budget subsidies, a spacious house was purchased for this family. However, the home still requires furnishing and equipment. Therefore, this year, the Olena Zelenska Foundation, together with UNICEF Ukraine, launched the initiative “From House to Home.” It was created to support large foster families who have received housing through state subsidies in adapting and equipping it according to their needs. As part of the initiative, the individual needs of 105 large foster families have already been assessed.
The initiative provides support to all families who will buy homes through the subsidy program by the end of the year. It became possible thanks to the financial support of partners, including the Governments of Poland and Germany, and UNICEF National Committees.
“UNICEF is proud to cooperate with the Olena Zelenska Foundation, helping transform houses into real homes and create warm, stable, and caring environments for those who need them most,” said Munir Mammadzade.
Furthermore, this autumn, the Foundation provided humanitarian aid to 32 large foster families in the Poltava Region with the support of the Czech company MND Group.
The First Lady, together with Czech partners and a representative of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Ukraine, also visited another large foster family – those of Hryhorii and Nataliia Pichkur. With the support of MND Group, the Olena Zelenska Foundation provided the family with household appliances and devices required for education and everyday needs.
“Our contribution is the least we as a business can offer in this difficult time of war for Ukraine. After all, helping children knows neither limits nor borders,” said Lukáš Svozil, Director of Horyzonty LLC / MND Ukraine.