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Lumos in Ukraine

We had been supporting vulnerable children in Ukraine well before the shocking crisis began in February 2022. When we began our work in 2013, there were an estimated 105,783 children located across 751 institutions in Ukraine. Since then, we have worked on a local and national level to bring reform to the care of children who need families, while still providing urgent emergency support to those affected by the war.

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OUR POSITIVE IMPACT ON UKRAINE

SUPPORTING UKRAINIAN FAMILIES IN CRISIS

Lumos has delivered over 100 tons of food/non-food items and trained almost 100 national trainers and 400 local practitioners to provide psycho-social support as a result of our Ukraine Appeal.

INFLUENCING CHANGE FROM THE TOP

Our team organised high-level events in Kyiv, where key leaders from over 5 countries discussed strategies to reform childcare systems. We also have advocated heavily for children’s rights including through the EU-Ukraine Human Rights Dialogue and have sought amendments to the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement to place greater consideration on the needs of children.

TRANSFORMING INSTITUTIONS IN KEY AREAS

We supported the transformation of institutions in the Zhytomyr region, leading to the closure of 4 institutions—deinstitutionalising 462 children.

LUMOS IN UKRAINE

Ukraine has among the highest number of children in institutions in Europe, with an ingrained institutional system viewed as the only solution for children at risk.

The proportion of institutionalised children in Ukraine is 1.5% of the total number of the child population, higher than any of the surrounding countries. Success in Ukraine is likely to have considerable influence on the DI reform processes in the neighbouring countries.

Starting in 2013, Lumos focused on regions in the Eastern part of the country – undertaking a Strategic Review and providing training in the Dnepropetrovsk region and Makeyevka. However, the implementation of reforms in the Eastern regions of Ukraine has been affected by the conflict and preventing Lumos from continuing activities in those regions.

In January 2016, the President of Ukraine, Mr. Petro Poroshenko, launched the reform of the country's institutional care system by signing a Decree “On a working group for reforming the system of institutional care and education of children.” The Ombudsman for Children under the President of Ukraine was designated to lead the working groups, comprising of representatives from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Social Policy – to develop a national deinstitutionalisation strategy.

Lumos, known as an expert in deinstitutionalisation reform at an international level, had been invited by the Ombudsman to provide technical assistance and expertise to the country during this process. Between 2016-2017, Lumos revitalised its activities in the country, supporting the Ombudsman’s office, the Government and other national and international organisations.

Success in Ukraine is likely to have considerable influence on the deinstitutionalisation reform processes in the neighbouring countries.

OUR KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

  • An adoption of the vision of deinstitutionalisation.
  • The Cabinet of Ministers’ approval of the National Strategy of Institutional Childcare System Reform, and the National Action Plan for 2017-2026.
  • Implementation of the Experimental Project "Development of the inclusive educational environment in Zaporozhe region" in 19 mainstream schools and extension of the Project in Dnepropetrovsk, Zhytomyr, Chernigov and Khmelnitsky regions.
  • Deinstitutionalisation training was delivered for around 90 participants, including MPs, representatives of the national and regional Governments, international organisations and local NGOs.
  • Technical assistance was provided towards developing an Inclusive Education Action Plan and regulatory framework for newly created services.
  • Study visits of Ukrainian partners in UK and in Moldova.
  • Creation of the National DI Reform Office (NDIRO) was supported.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR OUR WORK IN UKRAINE?

  • Continue supporting the Ukrainian authorities to implement the National Deinstitutionalisation Strategy and Plan.
  • Provide technical support to deinstitutionalisation and inclusive education reform in a targeted region to create an example of positive reform in the country.
  • Strengthen the capacity of national and regional level stakeholders in deinstitutionalisation and inclusive education.
go to: https://www.wearelumos.org/get-involved/ukraine-appeal/

LATEST NEWS FROM UKRAINE

read more about: First Lady of Ukraine makes commitment to end orphanages. (News) read more about: Lumos Christmas event: A “real holiday” for Ukrainian children with disabilities. (News) read more about: Lumos donates over £20,000 in specialist equipment to vulnerable Ukrainian children. (News)

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