Alla Maslakhova, Project Coordinator of NGO “Responsible Citizens,” in a Special Edition of the “SPIU Podcast

In the Kharkiv region, there are currently seven Child-Friendly Spaces created within a UNICEF project with financial support from USAID.

How do you make sure a strategy doesn’t just sit on paper but actually works — inspires, unites, and leads forward? How do you build a dialogue with media, partners...

We began as an initiative of people who sought to help where support was urgently needed. Evacuations, basic humanitarian aid, crisis response — all of this shaped our approach: to act responsibly, quickly, and with respect for the dignity of every person.

NGO Responsible Citizens, in partnership with UNICEF and with the support of the U.S. Government, is implementing the project “Strengthening Community Capacity to Provide Core Protection and Resilience Services in Kharkiv, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia Regions”.

On May 23, the Responsible Citizens team took part in the 3rd Annual International Conference “Ukrainian Leadership in Aid,” organized by the Alliance of Ukrainian Civil Society Organizations and international partners.

Ivan's story is about how small actions grow into big dreams. As a schoolboy, he helped displaced people from Donetsk and Luhansk regions—collecting sweet gifts for children, writing motivational notes, and joining volunteer initiatives. Back then, he had no idea that this help would be the beginning of a long journey.

In Pivdenne, Kharkiv region, even in difficult times, the community finds the strength to celebrate joy. During the City Day celebrations, we made sure that even the youngest residents felt cared for, valued, and protected.

Attention teachers from Marganets and Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast