Space of opportunities: how UNICEF and partners are saving children’s futures

“Mom, when are we going to the Space again?” — Sashko eagerly awaits each visit because it was there that he truly started speaking for the first time.

When the war began, Sashko was only two and a half years old. He and his mother, Valeria, lived in Kharkiv. After their first night in a bomb shelter, the woman made a difficult but right decision — to evacuate to a safer place. That’s how the family ended up in the village of Zachepylivka, where they still live.

After the move, Sashko experienced significant stress: his sleep was disrupted, and he became anxious. Later, his mother noticed that the boy was barely speaking and struggled to pronounce sounds. In the village, they found a speech therapist who helped him take his first steps. Then they learned about the Child-Friendly Space, where specialists work. Valeria immediately realized — this was the place that would help her son develop.

Now Sashko visits the Space regularly. Speech therapy sessions are conducted in the form of play — fun, dynamic, and engaging. The boy is progressing quickly: in four months, he learned to pronounce all sounds correctly, and his speech became clear and coherent. He happily communicates with other children, and his mother receives practical advice to continue the work at home.

Sashko calls the Space a place where it’s fun, joyful, and educational. He always asks when he’ll return there again.

Support in the Space is provided not only to the child — resources for parents are equally important.

Valeria, too, has gone through a challenging path of adaptation. Before the full-scale war, she worked as an administrator in a supermarket. Now, she is temporarily unemployed, caring for her mother, who is battling cancer. The family is under the support of a case manager from the NGO “Responsible Citizens.” Thanks to vouchers for Sashko’s clothing, they were able to choose necessary items themselves — this supported the family budget and helped maintain a sense of stability and dignity.

The NGO “Responsible Citizens,” together with UNICEF Ukraine, works alongside families to help them maintain balance and give children a chance to develop, even in difficult conditions.