We carry forward the good history of the Diaconia Fund, a charitable organization that has been actively implementing various projects to support children from vulnerable social groups since 2012.
Together with the Department of Children's Services of the Lviv City Council, "Ridni" establishes two family-type children's homes for ten children each. The Fund entirely covers the organization of housing and living conditions and provides support for the children's educational needs and medical services.
The Charity Fund "Ridni", together with its partners, provides support to hospitals and doctors, including the purchase of essential equipment and personal protective equipment, which were transferred to hospitals in Lviv and the surrounding region. The Fund also supplies 1,800 protective suits for healthcare workers to help fight the coronavirus. Additionally, the Fund assists families in need and launches remote support formats to continue helping during the pandemic.
The "Ridni 24" project is a joint initiative between the Fund and Ukrainian Channel 24, created to raise awareness about adoption and other family-based forms of care. The project tells 20 stories of families from different regions of Ukraine.
In partnership with the Department of Children's Services of the Lviv City Council, the Fund establishes a municipal institution, the Center for Social Support of Children and Families "Ridni". The Center's primary goal is to support biological families in creating nurturing environments that facilitate the return of their children from institutions or other temporary care arrangements.
"Ridni" provides the municipal institution with a fully renovated facility for free, long-term use. The Fund also offers additional training and workshops for the Center's team. Furthermore, the Fund supports recreational activities for children, including camps, as well as educational, developmental, and rehabilitation activities, depending on the requests.
The Charity Fund "Ridni" works to provide psychosocial support to children and families, promote family-based forms of care, and offer guidance and counseling for parents.
The Fund quickly adapts its operations to focus on family evacuation, humanitarian aid, and advocacy for children's rights. "Ridni" provides more than 500 individual requests for families of internally displaced persons (IDPs). In total, the Fund offers humanitarian aid across 15 regions of Ukraine.
The Fund's efforts increasingly focus on preserving the biological family and preventing institutionalization.
The Fund launches the resource and training program "Rejoicing Again: The Power of Play" in partnership with the organization Street Child. The program's primary goal is to equip specialists involved in psychosocial support for children during wartime with skills, resources, and guidance.
"Ridni" also assists in restoring shelters for children in schools across the Kyiv region.
Additionally, the Fund provides support to children and families evacuated to the EU.
"Ridni"'s team conducts advocacy and monitoring campaigns in partnership with the Office of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, often referred to as the Ombudsman of Ukraine.
Department of Children's Services of the Lviv City Council, in collaboration with the Fund "Ridni", creates the "Spilnota-Ridni" small group home.
The Fund provides a fully renovated and equipped facility for long-term free use. It also launches a formation program for the development and education of residents, teenagers, and young adults. "Spilnota" in Lviv operates based on the "Spilnota-Ridni community center".
The unique program aims to support and prepare young people for adulthood while fostering a community of active, self-confident individuals with successful futures who are committed to personal growth. The main areas of the program are emotional well-being, leadership, career guidance, and mentorship.
"Ridni" supports joint advocacy campaigns and statements regarding the return of deported children.
The Fund actively expands its work in advocating for children's rights by participating in various international events. "Ridni"'s team collaborates with the governments of Italy and Switzerland, the Vatican, and representatives of the United Nations and the US Congress.
The Fund, together with UNICEF, launches a large-scale project "Strengthening Community Capacity for Children's Well-Being" with the financial support of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany (BMZ) through the state development bank KfW, the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), and the Government of France.
The main focus areas of Fund's work have become comprehensive support for families from vulnerable groups, promotion of adoption and family-based care, as well as strengthening the skills of social workers and professionals working with children and their parents in the Lviv, Zakarpattia, and Chernivtsi regions, Ukraine.
The Charity Fund "Ridni" also begins collaboration with the UK government as part of the project "Strengthening the Capacity of the Family Support Service Department of the 'Ridni' Social Support Center." The main goal is to preserve and enhance the capacity of families in crises to ensure the well-being of children in Ukraine through strengthening capabilities and expanding support services.
The Fund became part of the trusted global crowdfunding platform GlobalGiving, enabling support from all corners of the world. As part of this cooperation, everyone can contribute to supporting children from vulnerable categories and children affected by the war.
The Charity Fund "Ridni" begins its partnership with the international humanitarian organization World Vision, which provides emergency assistance, and is jointly implementing the project "Resilience Resources in Educational Communities," aimed at supporting and strengthening the psychological resilience of children.
The Fund's activities cover the entire territory of Ukraine (excluding the temporarily occupied territories), with active expansion in the eastern regions. "Ridni" actively strengthens key areas such as orphanhood prevention, family support, and community capacity building.
The Fund underwents a financial audit by BDO, prepared following International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) for 2022–2023.
Additionally, the Fund implements a reintegration program for children returning from the EU.
The Fund officially became a member of Eurochild, a leading European network of organizations and experts united to protect children's rights and improve the quality of life for children across Europe.
The Charity Fund "Ridni" takes part in the development of the national strategy and implementation of the regional action plan of the Lviv region to implement the strategy, ensuring every child's right to grow up in a family environment in Ukraine for 2024–2028.
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How have "Ridni"'s activities changed since its founding?
Initially, “Ridni” focused mainly on helping orphaned children and developing family-based care. Over time, the activities expanded to include educational programs for youth, support for families in crisis, professional training, and influencing institutional system reforms. After 2022, the Fund has been actively working on humanitarian support and the reintegration of children returning from abroad.
What were the first projects of "Ridni"?
Among the first initiatives were programs to support orphaned children and promote adoption. The Fund ran awareness campaigns, developed educational resources for foster and adoptive parents, and began providing psychological support to families. These early projects laid the foundation for its deeper and broader social work.
How did the war affect the Fund's activities and focus?
After the full-scale war began, “Ridni” adapted its programs to meet new challenges. Emergency assistance for families with children, support for evacuees, and the return and reintegration of children from abroad became our main priorities. Additionally, the need for psychological support for both children and adults significantly increased.
Why is the Fund called "Ridni"? What is the philosophy behind it?
“Ridni”, meaning “family” or “kindred” in Ukrainian, reflects the Fund’s core idea: every child has the right to grow up in a family-loving, caring, and protected. The Fund believes in the power of family bonds and sees the family as the best environment for a child’s development. The philosophy of the name is about closeness, warmth, support, and trust.
What were the turning points or defining moments in the Fund's history?
One of the key milestones was the opening of the “Ridni” Center for Social Support of Children and Families in Lviv. Another was the expansion of activities across Ukraine after 2022. An equally important milestone was receiving support from international organizations such as UNICEF and GlobalGiving, which enabled the Fund to scale up our assistance.
What achievements does the Fund consider the most significant throughout its work?
“Ridni” is proud to have supported over 100,000 families, helped thousands of children return to a safe environment, and helped strengthen hundreds of foster families. Equally important are the educational programs for youth, support for social sector professionals, and the development of a mentorship system. The Fund also values the continuous updating of methodological resources and its active participation in reforming state policies concerning children.
Which partnerships have played a key role in the Fund's development?
“Ridni” collaborates with international organizations such as UNICEF, GlobalGiving, Ukraine Children’s Action Project (UCAP), and the UK government. It has also established partnerships with Ukrainian businesses, local authorities, and other public organizations. These collaborative efforts are essential for implementing large-scale assistance programs.