Support for Families and Children Displaced in Kharkiv Region
“We walk this path together with people to restore a sense of stability for families with children who were forced to leave their homes,” says Zhanna Vakulenko, a social worker from Kharkiv.
In the Kharkiv region, our team supports people daily who have been forced to leave their homes due to the war. Most of them are families with children arriving from Vovchansk, Druzhkivka, Derhachi community, and other affected areas.
Social worker of NGO “Responsible Citizens” Zhanna Vakulenko works in temporary accommodation sites and sees daily how important it is to help each child and their parents feel safe and cared for.
For children, our team organizes comprehensive assistance: psychological sessions to reduce anxiety and normalize their state. Equally important is providing a safe space for socialization and new friendships — especially for those who have been studying online since 2020.
Children in need attend speech therapy sessions. First graders participate in mine safety lessons, which are regularly repeated, as this knowledge must be constantly refreshed. Older children attend career guidance sessions to help them choose future professions.
“We are already seeing results: children become more socialized, their psychological state stabilizes, and even their academic performance improves,” shares Zhanna Vakulenko.
Helping adults is equally important. The NGO team advises on obtaining legal statuses, assists in creating resumes to find work, promotes financial literacy, provides parenting support, and accompanies families considering adoption.
NGO “Responsible Citizens” has worked for over 11 years with the most vulnerable groups of the population. We are always close to those forced to leave frontline regions.






Більше новин
-
The organization “Responsible Citizens” has joined the “Ukraine for Every Child” ManifestoOn the occasion of Universal Children’s Day, which this year marks the 35th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the organization “...
-
On Youth Day, “Responsible Citizens” participated in the All-Ukrainian Youth ForumYouth leaders and activists from civil society organizations across Ukraine gathered in Kyiv for three days to unite their efforts and articulate their vision for t...
-
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.
-
NGO “Responsible Citizens” became the winner in the nomination “Light of Knowledge: Charity in the Name of the Future” at the forum “Donetsk Region 2025: A Look into the Future.”The forum became an important platform for strengthening dialogue between the state, local authorities, and the civic sector.
-
Project to overcome educational gaps completed: what we achievedNGO Responsible Citizens, in partnership with the government of the Faroe Islands, has completed a project aimed at addressing educational gaps among primary and secondary school students in Dnipropetrovsk oblast.
-
Psychosocial Support for Children Affected by the War in Zaporizhzhia OblastThe activities were carried out within the framework of the UNICEF project in Ukraine “Strengthening Community Capacity to Deliver Essential Protection and Resilience Services in Kharkiv, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts,” implemented by the NGO “Responsible Citizens” with the support of the Government of the United States of America.
-
Ukrainian leadership in action: shaping the future of Humanitarian AidOn 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.
-
Olga Kosse at the Swedish Parliament: psychological support for children is about Ukraine’s futureThe event was initiated by our steadfast partners at Rädda Barnen / Save the Children Sweden, who have consistently supported child protection and humanitarian response efforts in Ukraine over the years. Among the participants were members of the Swedish Parliament working on international development, human rights, and child protection issues: Gudrun Brunegård, Azra Muranovic, Carina Ödebrink and Marie-Louise Hänel Sandström.