Free children — free dreams
When a child returns home after deportation or life in temporarily occupied territory, it's just the first step. Ahead lies a long path of recovery, adaptation and faith that life can be good and fair. We at Ukrainian Child Rights Network have already helped 280 children return to their families. But our mission doesn't end with return. We're with them as they learn again to rejoice, trust and dream.
We know how important it is for a child to feel: they are heard, remembered, their dream matters. That's why we created the project "Free children — free dreams". Its goal is to give children some joy and faith in the future. We aim to fulfill dreams of 17 children who survived deportation or occupation.
Among their wishes are simple but warm ones: visit the Carpathians, meet a famous person, get sneakers, a camera lens or a soft toy. For some the dream is to see mom or return to liberated Kherson. We want each dream to become reality. At least partially.
A fulfilled dream isn't just a gift. It's proof that childhood can return.
But we don't limit ourselves to gifts. Our project has deeper meaning — help children find themselves in new life. We organize career meetings with famous Ukrainians — actors, journalists, athletes, artists. We plan visits to companies, interesting lectures about professions. Children will touch the world of possibilities and see their future is in their hands.
Ukrainian Child Rights Network is an alliance of 39 organizations and foundations working over 10 years to protect every child's rights.
We implement family support programs, conduct advocacy campaigns, develop social services in communities. Since 2022 we return children from deportation and temporarily occupied territories with partners.
We're inspired by results. When we see a child's smile hugging mom again (or an adult replacing parents). This is faith that future can be built. This is the feeling of safety returning step by step.
Our project unites people, resources and hearts. We invite everyone to join — because even one fulfilled child's dream can change a whole life. Together we return not just children — we return their childhood.
