The Centre for Children in Need, "Our Kids," is a pilot project intended to serve as a model for other non-governmental organisations, public-private partnerships and energy-efficient projects in Ukraine and other Eastern Partnership countries. The Centre was established in 2008 by the German-Polish-Ukrainian Society in Ukraine and supports the Ukrainian public authorities in protecting the rights of the most vulnerable people in society: orphans, children without parental care, and those whose families are in challenging circumstances.
"Our Kids" is a unique public-private partnership, providing direct and indirect aid to children, youth and families who have fallen on hard times. The Centre’s Pedagogical Concept includes the rehabilitation and development of children through educational and therapeutic services.
Our Kids provides children facing vulnerabilities with highly effective services aimed at their socio-psychological rehabilitation, individual development and reintegration into society. Their vision is that every child grows up in a family in a friendly environment in which all children's rights are respected.
Where they operate
Organization Type
Main Areas of Work
What They Do
The Centre has 10 fully equipped apartments designed to accommodate 54 children, 8 apartments for socially disadvantaged families, and 2 apartments functioning as a social hostel for adolescent children who are still continuing their education and who are not yet able to build an independent life. Children living with foster parents enjoy the support of:
- psychologists,
- social workers,
- educators,
- speech therapists,
- coaches and other specialists in relevant areas.
The Centre’s main objective is to place children in stable families (whether by reintegration into the biological family, through foster care, or through adoption). "Our Kids" prioritises work with biological families, aiming to return the children to their closest relatives. Parents and relatives can attend psychological and youth counseling sessions. The Centre continues supporting the children and their families for three years after the child leaves the Centre, with a gradual reduction in the frequency of visits.
Along with social and psychological rehabilitation, the Centre also develops the children’s creativity in various areas (music, dance, sports, and education).
The Centre provides indirect assistance in addressing the problem of socially disadvantaged population groups through improved childcare methods and developing a new legal framework for protecting children’s rights. It seeks to avert family crises through training, conferences, and seminars. It conducts roundtable discussions for a regular exchange of experience between Ukrainian experts, public figures and their counterparts from the European Union.