In Ukraine today, childhood is no longer what it once was. For millions of young people, days that should be filled with laughter, learning, and carefree play are instead shaped by air raid sirens, fear of shelling, and long nights in shelters. Yet, amid this hardship, children continue to dream, train in sports, study, and hope for peace.
This year, Hope for Ukraine (HFU) had the privilege of welcoming children from Kryvyi Rih—just miles from the frontline—into our summer camps and wellness programs. Their stories remind us why our mission matters: to restore not only safety and shelter, but also joy and dignity to the youngest victims of war.
Finding Safety in Family, Strength in Sports
For 13-year-old Linida, the war has changed everything. “Being a child in Ukraine today means growing up too fast,” she says. Yet, she finds strength in family moments, in gymnastics, and in the camps that gave her a chance to smile again.
Andrii, also 13, echoes her words: “We try to be strong, but deep down we want peace and a normal childhood.” His time at a camp in Italy gave him the space to breathe, laugh, and be a child again.
Sports, especially boxing and gymnastics, provide stability for many of the children. Serhii, 15, shares how boxing makes him confident and resilient: “Sometimes it’s scary, but it also made me stronger and more focused.” Camps abroad gave him the energy to keep dreaming despite the fear that surrounds daily life.
For Sofiia Shvets, 16, happiness has become redefined: “Now it means silence after alarms, everyone being alive, or a day without sirens.” Yet, her camp in Italy reminded her that kindness is stronger than war.
Childhood Interrupted
Children like Dariia, 16, describe the trauma in heartbreaking terms: “Being a child in Ukraine is like being a helpless insect that someone wants to crush. We are innocent, but forced to live under shelling.”
Others, like Ratmir (15) and Sasha (12), talk about how camps bring back moments of normalcy—friendship, laughter, and the ability to feel safe again. But back home, alarms, explosions, and constant stress return.
For Daryna, just 12 years old, life is a cycle of online lessons, training, and fear. “I hear sirens more often than music,” she says. “At camp, I felt calm and safe under a peaceful sky.”
Why Your Support Matters
Across Ukraine, more than 1 in 3 children report distress, and adolescent anxiety and depression markers have soared. UNICEF reports that child casualties more than doubled this year alone. Children speak of living with fear, yet they also show extraordinary resilience—still training, studying, laughing, and dreaming.
Hope for Ukraine works tirelessly to provide more than just survival. Our camps, after-school programs, and humanitarian aid projects create safe spaces where children can heal, grow, and remember what it feels like to be kids.
When you support HFU, you give more than food, shelter, or medical aid—you give the gift of hope. You remind these children that they are not forgotten, that their voices matter, and that peace is worth believing in.
Hope For Ukraine Response
At Hope For Ukraine, we are responding to these urgent challenges through programs designed to bring both immediate relief and long-term stability:
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Mental Health Support: Expanding access to psychosocial services for children and families in distress.
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Food Assistance: Delivering regular meal kits to displaced and vulnerable families.
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Shelter Repair & Resilience: Supporting home repairs, providing solar kits, and restoring essential infrastructure.
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Children’s Programs: Organizing safe camps, events, and activities to give children moments of joy, healing, and normalcy.
Every act of support helps restore dignity and stability to families caught in the middle of war.
How You Can Help
The humanitarian needs in Ukraine are greater than ever — but together, we can make a difference.
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Donate: Your gift provides food, shelter, and medical aid.
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Volunteer: Join our mission to deliver direct relief.
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Spread Awareness: Share our work so others can stand with Ukraine.
Visit our Donation Page to support families today.