Spanish Ambassador highly praises support for families in projects by NGO “Responsible Citizens” in partnership with UNICEF
The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Spain to Ukraine, Ricardo López-Aranda Jagu, together with the Head of UNICEF’s Representation in Ukraine, Munir Mamedzade, visited Zaporizhzhia.

The visit highlighted the importance of cooperation between international organizations and local NGOs, particularly “Responsible Citizens,” in providing humanitarian aid to families affected by the war. The delegation explored the activities of the NGO “Responsible Citizens,” which actively supports vulnerable families with children facing challenging circumstances due to the conflict.
Since 2023, in partnership with UNICEF, the organization has established 48 Child-Friendly Spaces across four regions in eastern Ukraine. The Spanish Ambassador and the UNICEF Head visited one such space in Zaporizhzhia, commending its operations. Special attention was given to case management—a systematic approach to supporting families, including needs assessments, coordination with local services, and psychological support.
Representatives of the organization explained how families learn about their activities through social media, partner organizations, and local service recommendations. Psychologists shared insights on the most common requests, such as coping with stress, adapting to new conditions, and supporting emotional well-being. Successful cases included assistance with document restoration and providing educational opportunities for children.

Spanish Ambassador Ricardo López-Aranda Jagu highly praised the organization’s work: “Your NGO truly lives up to its name—you are indeed responsible citizens doing incredibly important work.” He also emphasized Spain’s solidarity with Ukraine in supporting affected communities.
“Partnerships with UNICEF and other international organizations operating under UN standards enable us to create an effective system for supporting families in communities. Local organizations like ours serve as a bridge between international aid and the real needs of people in the most affected regions,” said Olga Kosse, Head of the Board of “Responsible Citizens.”
Collaboration with UNICEF has been key to implementing projects aimed at supporting children and families in the Zaporizhzhia region. The Spanish Ambassador’s visit underscored the importance of such partnerships in building stronger communities and ensuring a dignified life for those affected by the war.


Photo: Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration
Більше новин
-
NGO “Responsible Citizens” Joins the Ukraine Education ClusterThe Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, international organizations, donors, and partners of Ukraine, together with the public sector, are working on a single platform to overcome the serious challenges brought by the war.
-
NGO “Responsible Citizens” at the Regional Forum “Every Day for Children”The Regional Forum “Every Day for Children” took place for the first time in Dnipro, bringing together over 250 participants — representatives of authorities, local governments, child protection services, international and civil society organizations, and law enforcement.
-
Employees of the NGO “Responsible Citizens” completed a HEAT training course—a program on survival and response in high-risk areasThe staff of the NGO “Responsible Citizens” have completed a four-day intensive HEAT (Hostile Environment Awareness Training) course, designed to prepar...
-
Art therapy as a path to recovery: how Alona helps children through creativityIn these photos, you can see Alona, an art therapist from our team, who works in the northern part of Donetsk region. As part of a mobile brigade, she visits famili...
-
Launching new project Lives 3.0Our team has launched a new project, LIVES 3.0, which will cover four regions in Eastern Ukraine. The project is implemented under the same-name program in partners...
-
How cash assistance is being delivered in Donetsk communities during the warBeing close to people in critical moments — this is the goal of the project “Localized, Inclusive and Multisectoral Emergency Assistance to War-Affected Populations in Ukraine”, implemented in Donetsk Oblast by the NGO Responsible Citizens, in partnership with Mercy Corps, and with financial support from the UK Government.
-
Play, Support, Care: How Child-Friendly Spaces Strengthen the Mental Health of Children and ParentsPsychosocial support is provided as part of UNICEF’s project “Strengthening Community Capacity to Provide Core Protection and Resilience Services in Kharkiv, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia Regions,” implemented by Responsible Citizens NGO with support from the Government of the United States of America.
-
Teachers’ training in Kyiv: Addressing educational gaps caused by the warA specialized training session for teachers took place in Kyiv, focusing on overcoming significant learning gaps among students caused by the war. Over the past yea...