“I will gain experience and open a family-type children’s home. This is my dream,” says Ivan, a social worker from Kryvyi Rih.
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.
This year, Ivan is defending his thesis in social work at Kryvyi Rih Pedagogical University. But he didn’t wait for a diploma to start doing what truly matters. A year and a half ago, he joined the team of the NGO “Responsible Citizens,” working with families and children affected by the war. His job involves individual and group consultations, supporting those who have lost their footing, and being a source of hope for those who have almost lost it.
“I have always wanted to help people. At first, I thought of becoming a doctor, like my mother. But then I realized that there are many ways to help. Social work is about being there when it matters most. It’s about giving support to those who have lost it,” Ivan shares.
Growing up as the only brother in a large family, he understands how important family warmth is. That is why his dream is to create a family-type children’s home—a place where every child can feel like part of something bigger, where they are heard, protected, and loved.
“I’m gaining experience—both professional and personal. Right now, I am in an incredible team that helps me grow. But I have long known that my dream is to create a home for children who need family warmth. Every child should know they are not alone,” says Ivan.
His work is not just about consultations or planning—it’s about changing lives. “It is important for a person to understand who they are and what their place in the world is. Their decisions, opportunities, and future depend on this. And I want to be the one who helps them find it,” he says.
Stories like these prove that the humanitarian field is about choosing to be there for others and believing that even small support can change someone’s life. Ivan’s work in Dnipropetrovsk region is a great example of people for whom helping others is not just an accident but a true calling.
Більше новин
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Voices of Donetsk Region: Partnership for Community SupportThe Partnership and Cooperation Forum “Voices of Donetsk Region” has become an important platform for discussing these challenges, presenting the Network’s Roadmap, and developing joint solutions.
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12 km from the frontline: Support for those who need it mostIn the frontline communities of Donetsk region, the team of Responsible Citizens NGO is registering residents for multi-purpose cash assistance. This initiative is part of the project “Local, inclusive, and multisectoral emergency aid for war-affected people in Ukraine”, implemented in partnership with Mercy Corps and financially supported by the UK government.
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Helping safely: a new level of humanitarian responsibilityGenuine motivation is only the first step. Real responsibility begins with understanding how to provide assistance in a way that is safe — for children, for families, and for everyone involved This was the focus of the Safeguarding training attended by representatives of Responsible Citizens NGO, supported by UNICEF Ukraine.
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More Than 9,000 Children and Adults Received Support Through a UNICEF Ukraine Project in Communities Across Eastern UkraineThe project is being implemented by Responsible Citizens NGO with financial support from UNICEF and the Government of the United States.
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Warmth for the Family: The Story of a Rybalske Household That Received Cash Assistance to Prepare for WinterThe winter cash assistance program is implemented by Responsible Citizens NGO in partnership with JERU (a joint initiative of the international organizations Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide) with funding from the German Federal Foreign Office (AA).
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Over 100 organizations unite for child-centered changeResponsible Citizens NGO has joined the Civil Society Collaboration Platform for the Best Interests of the Child — a space for cooperation between international, national and local organizations established to implement the Strategy to Ensure Every Child’s Right to Grow Up in a Family Environment in Ukraine (2024–2028).
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Charity festival “Dnipro. All Our Own”: Uniting to support children and families in DniproDnipro hosted the charity festival “Dnipro. All Our Own,” which brought together civil society organizations, charitable foundations, entrepreneurs, and city residents around an important goal — helping internally displaced persons (IDPs) and families that include people with disabilities. The festival fostered an atmosphere of support, mutual assistance, and hope, which is especially important in today’s circumstances.
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Team-Based Care: How Professionals Learn to See a Child’s NeedsA training session titled “Team-Based Care in Assessing a Child’s Needs” was held in Zaporizhzhia, organized by the NGO Responsible Citizens within the UNICEF Ukraine project.