Advocacy for Family-Based Care: Experience for Communities in Eastern Ukraine

NGO Responsible Citizens systematically works to ensure that children in the communities of Eastern Ukraine have a safe environment and favorable conditions.

We believe that every child should grow up in a family, surrounded by care and love, even in the most difficult times. That is why our team strengthens the capacity of specialists who work daily to protect children’s rights.

Recently, Maryna Solona, a social work specialist from our team in Dnipropetrovsk region, completed an induction training “Advocacy in Communities: Development of Family-Based Care and Foster Care” within the project “RETURN: Ukraine – Family – Home”, supported by UNICEF Ukraine and partners.

Participants learned how to build effective advocacy campaigns, engage stakeholders, overcome barriers, and protect the interests of children at the local level. In times of war, such knowledge is particularly valuable, as many families are forced to separate, and the development of family-based and foster care helps children gain stability, care, and a sense of home.

Maryna emphasizes that the acquired experience will serve as a basis for introducing new approaches in communities and will contribute to creating conditions where every child can grow up in a family.

The project “RETURN: Ukraine – Family – Home” is implemented jointly by UNICEF Ukraine, Partnership Every Child, the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine, the State Service of Ukraine for Children’s Affairs, the National Social Service of Ukraine, and the Coordination Center for the Development of Family Care and Child Upbringing, with financial support from Irish Aid and the U.S. Government.