SOS Children's Villages Ukraine is one of the largest organisations in Ukraine working with children who do not have parental care or are at risk of losing it. The organisation was established in 2003 and since that time, about 16,000 children have been supported by SOS Children's Villages Ukraine.

Image credit: SOS

Main activities and achievements

1. Family Strengthening Programme is aimed at preventing children at risk from losing parental care through capacity building of family and community to satisfy the needs of a child. SOS provides holistic support to children and their families including humanitarian, psychological, educational, social services in 4 Family Strengthening Centers (Kyiv, Brovary, Sievierodonetsk, Starobilsk). General number of children supported at the same time is about 800, and we work not only with the child, but with the whole family. Provided holistic support allows children at risk to grow in caring family environment. 
2. Since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, SOS Children's Villages has worked with IDPs, war-affected children and their families. Emergency Response Project in 2016 supports 650 children and their families, in 2017 will support 900 children and their families. SOS Children's Villages Ukraine is one of a few organisations able to operate in the Luhansk non-government controlled area. There are about 70 vulnerable families  with 150 children under holistic social support in Lugansk town and more receiving different services through our emergency projects.
3. Effective cooperation with UNICEF is continuing, which now includes not only emergency/early recovery, but also work towards De-I reform and development of social services in Luhansk region.
4. There is SOS Children’s Village in Brovary, Kyiv region, where 94 children (orphans and deprived of parental care) are being brought up in 16 families (including short-term care). In Luhansk region we support foster families bringing up 30 children.
5. Working with co-workers and local specialists to improve their ability to respond to the challenges they face. This includes training on working with IDPs, needs assessment, dealing with trauma, preventing burnout, awareness raising on relevant issues, including mine risks and first aid.

Image credit: SOS

Advocacy

SOS Children’s Village is also the founder of the Ukrainian Network for Children's Rights, which aims to promote policies and practices defending children's rights. https://www.facebook.com/ukrainianchildrightsnetwork/

Read more about SOS Children's Village at the following links:

http://sos-ukraine.org/

https://www.facebook.com/sos.cv.ua/