how we help in Ukraine

Ukraine is facing one of the largest displacement crises of our time. Fida works to support the well-being and future of children affected by the war.

The consequences of the war are deeply visible in the daily lives of Ukrainian children. Many have lost family members and have been forced to live with constant fear.

Air raid alarms repeatedly interrupt everyday life. Some schools operate remotely, and opportunities for hobbies and normal childhood activities have diminished. Ukrainian children need long-term support to cope with the effects of war.

Supporting children in Odesa and Zaporizhzhia

Fida is working to create safer and more inclusive school environments for children in areas close to the frontline, where the need for support is greatest.

Between 2026 and 2029, the development cooperation country programme will reach approximately 36,000 children and 400 teachers. The activities are implemented through schools.

Areas such as Zaporizhzhia are under constant air attacks and lie so close to enemy forces that reaching bomb shelters in time after an alarm can be difficult. Living under these conditions has a significant impact on children’s mental well-being.

Psychosocial support and protection

• Children take part in psychosocial support groups that strengthen their well-being and resilience in the midst of stressful daily life.
• The groups are particularly intended for children who have lost a parent in the war.
• Special groups are also organised for children with disabilities.

Russia has used social media as a tool to recruit children and young people for acts of sabotage and violence. To address this threat, the programme includes school sessions on digital safety, helping children recognise and resist harmful manipulation online.

Support for persons with disabilities

The war has significantly increased the number of people living with disabilities in Ukraine. Society must be able to support them both now and in the future.

• Fida’s programme strengthens the capacity of schools to support children with disabilities.
• Teachers receive training on inclusive education and on how to provide psychosocial support to students.
• In addition, the programme provides rehabilitation for approximately one hundred adults who have been injured during the war.

The work is carried out in partnership with Edobro, the humanitarian organisation of the Ukrainian Pentecostal Church. Fida also strengthens Edobro’s organisational capacity through training in areas such as financial management, helping the organisation grow as a strong actor within Ukrainian civil society.

The development cooperation country programme is supported by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.

Support groups for displaced children in Western Ukraine

Between 2023 and 2025, Fida provided food assistance, cash support, basic supplies and psychosocial support to displaced families in the region.

The project initially distributed food aid but later shifted to cash assistance, enabling families to purchase food themselves. Some families have also been able to use the support to cover heating costs during the cold winter months.

Children receive psychosocial support through clubs and support groups, and summer camps have been organised for them. According to parents, the camps have brought moments of joy to children and offered a break from the exhausting reality of displacement.

The assistance in Berehove has been supported through Fida’s relief appeal, and the children’s clubs continue to operate.

Fida’s partner in the region is the Transcarpathian Baptist Charity Foundation.