Olena Zelenska Foundation supports over 600 large foster families

The Office of the President of Ukraine said this in a statement following Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska's visit to large foster families in the Poltava region together with the foundation's team and partners, Ukrinform reports.

According to Zelenska, humanitarian assistance for large foster families is an example of how meaningful support can change the lives of entire households.

"This is one of the areas of the Foundation's work, because we want every child to have a home, care, and the opportunity to grow. For us, it is important not only to respond to urgent needs but also to create lasting conditions in which children grow up surrounded by love, safety, and support. Thanks to such partnerships and joint initiatives, more than 600 families have already received essential humanitarian assistance," she said.

One of these families is the large foster family of Olena Husarenko, who is raising nine children, five of whom are biological siblings. The family was visited by Olena Zelenska, the Foundation's team, and Munir Mammadzade, UNICEF Representative to Ukraine.

Using state budget subsidies, a spacious house was purchased for this family. However, the home still requires furnishing and equipment. Therefore, this year, the Olena Zelenska Foundation, together with UNICEF Ukraine, launched the initiative "From House to Home." It was created to support large foster families who have received housing through state subsidies in adapting and equipping it according to their needs. As part of the initiative, the individual needs of 105 large foster families have already been assessed.

"UNICEF is proud to cooperate with the Olena Zelenska Foundation, helping transform houses into real homes and create warm, stable, and caring environments for those who need them most," Mammadzade said.

This autumn, the Foundation provided humanitarian aid to 32 large foster families in the Poltava region with the support of the Czech company MND Group.

The First Lady, together with Czech partners and a representative of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Ukraine, also visited another large foster family – those of Hryhorii and Nataliia Pichkur. With the support of MND Group, the Olena Zelenska Foundation provided the family with household appliances and devices required for education and everyday needs.

Photo credit: Office of the President of Ukraine