During her visit to Italy, First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska held a series of meetings with international partners focused on expanding support for Ukrainian children and youth.
The President’s wife met with Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates; Giovanni Azzone, President of the Italian Association of Foundations and Savings Banks S.p.A. (ACRI); Laurent Saint-Martin, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad; Pierre Heilbronn, Special Envoy of the President of France for Ukraine's Relief and Reconstruction; and representatives of the French business community.
During the meetings, the First Lady shared findings from the “Future Index” research, which showed that 44% of Ukrainian children are exhibiting signs of potential PTSD.
“According to a UNICEF study, 61% of parents report that their children are showing signs of stress and sleep disturbances. These are the consequences of growing up in the context of full-scale Russian invasion – an experience of loss, displacement, constant risk and uncertainty,” the President’s wife noted.
The Olena Zelenska Foundation team presented the “12–21” project, which envisions the creation of inclusive youth spaces providing psychosocial support, career guidance, and recreational activities for adolescents and young people aged 12 to 21. The first five spaces will open in Ukraine this year. One of them, located in Kryvyi Rih, will receive €1 million in funding from Italy for its establishment and operations, as outlined in a memorandum signed between the Foundation and ACRI.
Olena Zelenska and Reem Al Hashimy agreed to continue cooperation across all three of the Foundation’s focus areas: the promotion and support of family-based care, access to education, and the provision of psychosocial assistance. The First Lady noted that the UAE Government is one of the Foundation’s key partners in the “Room for Childhood” project, which involves building housing for large foster families who have lost their homes due to the war.
“With support from the UAE Government, we have already built ten such homes. Today, together with Ms. Reem, we discussed the construction status of another ten houses funded this year. We are already looking for suitable families and land plots for them,” the President’s wife stressed.
At the meeting with Laurent Saint-Martin, Pierre Heilbronn and representatives of the French business community, the focus was on the safety of the educational environment. The First Lady stated that at the Foundation’s initiative, 17 shelters in schools and kindergartens have already been restored and equipped. Another 17 are currently in progress, and the plan for next year includes at least 50 more.
Olena Zelenska expressed gratitude to all of the Foundation’s partners – and to Ukraine’s partners – for their assistance to Ukrainian children.