Ukraine - Overview 

SOS Children's Villages' activities in the country

Already in the 1990-ies various humanitarian Ukrainian organisations evinced their interest in the establishment of an SOS Children's Village. Thanks to Elisabeth Hölzl, Project Director of „Munich helps Kiev“, and Swetlana Lewkowska, managing director of the Ukrainian Samaritan Federation, the idea to realize the SOS family child-care model in the Ukraine was favourably received by the responsible city administration of Kiev and the construction of an SOS Children's Village was recorded as one of the most important measures in the social plan of the city for 2001-2005.

In 2003 SOS-Kinderdorf International established a representative office in Kiev. With the monthly distribution of food packages to large families, most of them belonging to single mothers, SOS Children's Villages started its first aid programmes in the Podol district of Kiev. As there were no facilities taking care of children and youths experimenting with drugs, SOS Children's Villages opened an HIV/AIDS counselling centre for this at-risk group, as well as their parents. Psychological advice is offered as part of the work of both projects and children and youths can take part in art therapy and various other free time activities. In order to reach out to more children and youths various activities of a mobile centre (Play Bus) were offered in cooperation with the local district administration during the years 2004-2006.