Girl in purple unicorn top standing against a wall in her home
Where we work

Ukraine

War Child is rapidly developing and deploying its life-saving work to protect, educate, and provide for the millions of children impacted by the ongoing war in Ukraine.

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The war in Ukraine continues to cause immeasurable human suffering, loss of life, and widespread destruction.

Thousands have been killed or injured, and hostilities continue to cause massive damage to civilian infrastructure, including homes, schools, hospitals, water, and power stations.

Millions of people have been forced to flee the conflict. Over 3 million people, including close to 1 million children, are internally displaced, and over 6 million live in other countries as refugees.

Scale of the challenge

  • 3.7 M

    People internally displaced, more than half are children.

  • 3.3 M

    Children in need of humanitarian assistance.

  • 3.6 M

    Children affected by the school closures.

Our work in Ukraine

War Child and our partners have been supporting those on the frontline in Ukraine since the conflict began in February 2022. We provide critical training for child-centred humanitarian responses while also working in neighbouring territories where people are being forced to flee. In 2023, we reached 70,557 people in Ukraine and 16,579 in Hungary.

Olga standing in front of a wall.
I remember how our windows in the room were shaking because of the explosions. That’s why we run from home, because of the war. And I had this feeling that we won’t come back home.
Olga, Ukraine.

War Child's programmes include: 

  • Child protection interventions, including play hubs, child-friendly spaces, and initiatives aimed at safeguarding the rights and wellbeing of children in Ukraine.
  • Mental health and psychosocial support for children and adults affected by the conflict.
  • Activities promoting positive parenting practices and meaningful caregiver engagements to create a nurturing environment for children.
  • Catch-up school classes and education materials.
  • Efforts to foster social cohesion by integrating Roma families with the broader local communities, promoting inclusivity and cultural exchange via social events and integration sessions.
  • Capacity-building initiatives targeted at strengthening the skills and capabilities of our local NGO partners, empowering them to better serve their communities.

 

Project focus – Can’t Wait To Learn 

Can’t Wait To Learn is a digital learning application for education in emergencies created by War Child, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, and NGO Osvitoria. The programme supports children to gain recognised qualifications by playing educational games on tablet devices. It is an integral part of our education work that combines psychosocial support, child protection, and education to help children regain trust in themselves and others. Launched in 2012, it has been used in Chad, Jordan, Lebanon, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda, and Ukraine.

Children playing in Ukraine.
Photo taken by Liset Verberne
We won’t stop until every child living through conflict is safe from harm.  But we can’t do it without you. 

Donate to War Child today and help us be there for children in Ukraine and other conflict zones around the world.

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