Postcode Lottery's Dream Project Aims to Transform Foster Care in Ukraine
In a remarkable display of generosity and social responsibility, the Swedish Postcode Lottery has allocated 20 million kronor to the SOS Children's Villages as part of its Dream Project initiative. This collaboration aims to bolster the number of foster homes and enhance existing ones in war-torn Ukraine over the course of three years.
Project manager Svitlana Tuntueva shared the profound impacts of this initiative, stating, "I am happy to see how the children change when they come to the families and also how the parents change." This statement underscores the transformative power of nurturing environments and the critical need for safe spaces for children displaced by conflict.
The importance of this project was further emphasized by Petra Nyberg, unit manager for international program development at SOS Children's Villages in Sweden. "The children in Ukraine need a safe embrace that they can call home," she remarked. "The alternative institutional care is a form of aging child storage that often involves violations of children's rights. Our goal is to save as many children as possible from a dark future of hopelessness and instead provide them with a new reality where they can heal the wounds of war."
As part of this initiative, SOS Children's Villages has partnered with six local organizations to connect with foster homes across various regions in Ukraine, including Kyiv, Chernihiv, Poltava, Chernivtsi, Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Lviv. Mobile teams comprised of specialists in social work, psychology, social pedagogy, and speech-language therapy are deployed to cater to the specific needs of children and their foster families. Tuntueva highlighted that experts are integral to preparing candidates for fostering and addressing challenges related to child-rearing they may face.
Valerii, a parent who recently completed training to become a foster parent along with his wife, recounted their experiences welcoming a teenage girl into their home. "We knew that it might be difficult to adjust, especially considering her age. But thanks to the knowledge we have gained, we have a different perspective and insights into the challenges that arise and we know how we can meet them," he reflected. This personal testament demonstrates how training and support can significantly improve the foster care experience for both children and parents.
The Postcode Lottery has been a cornerstone of civil society support in Sweden for 20 years, making it the largest private donor to the nonprofit sector. Managing Director Anders Årbrandt remarked on the timeliness of the Dream Project, stating, "The current global situation makes the work to strengthen civil society more important than ever. Our long-term commitment contributes to organizations being able to grow, be innovative, and be where the needs are greatest."
In an impressive act of altruism, last week, the Postcode Lottery distributed its entire annual surplus of over one billion kronor to 62 nonprofit organizations working to better the world for people, animals, and nature. This includes the significant funding given to SOS Children's Villages, which has received a total of 400 million kronor since becoming involved with the Postcode Lottery in 2008.
The Dream Project is not merely an initiative; it is a beacon of hope for many children and families in Ukraine, paving the way for healing, growth, and a brighter future.
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