Ukraine Children's Action Project (UCAP)
The Ukraine Children’s Action Project (UCAP) supports Ukrainian children whose lives have been impacted by the violence of the war in their country. Since the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022, almost two-thirds of Ukraine’s children under the age of 15 have fled their homes in search of safety in the west of the country or in other nations. Many children are traumatized by their experiences and the majority continue to undergo disruptions to their education that may impact them for a lifetime.
UCAP was founded in May 2022 by Dr. Irwin Redlener and Karen Redlener. The Redleners have worked together for more than fifty years, supporting the medical and social care of children living in poverty or in crisis. Their friendship with songwriter, artist, and activist, Joan Baez, led them to turn their attention to the children of Ukraine. Soon after Russia’s invasion, Baez painted a portrait of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and, after raising $125,000 from sales of the painting, she asked the Redleners how best to use the funds.
UCAP’s Work in Ukraine
Since then, UCAP has raised more than $5 million. From a regional headquarters in Lviv, run by Yuliia Kardash, UCAP partners with local organizations in Ukraine and countries hosting Ukrainian refugees to provide support for children. To date, the non-profit has worked with more than 35 different programs.
These include:
https://ucap.help/2024/08/renovation-and-furnishing-of-new-kids-club-in-lviv-ukraine/
Recovery camps for displaced children and families with trauma
Development of an online course that provides information and tools to teachers to help them with children in their classrooms who have been impacted by trauma
Provision of winter boots, clothing, and stoves
Implementation of a pediatric expert exchange program between Children’s Hospital of Montefiore in New York and Saint Nicolaus Children’s Hospital in Lviv
Donation of generators to kindergartens in Lviv to maintain electricity and heat for young students
Provision of computer tablets to over 1500 students
Funding a social worker in Prague to ensure refugee children are able to access education
UCAP and Freedom Pancakes for Ukraine
The Redleners are driven by the hope that the war in Ukraine will end and the nation will need its children to be psychologically and educationally ready to help rebuild their country.
They have both been very supportive of A Very Good Feeling. When author Janice Cohn reached out to them, asking about the possibility of finding a Ukrainian illustrator, they immediately saw the importance of her book and put her in touch with UCAP Regional Director in Lviv, Yuliia Kardash. Yuliia, who tells her own story here, was immersed in her work with Ukrainian children and refugees and still found the time to track down the talented artist, Yana Holubiatnikova.
If you would like to learn more about UCAP’s work, please visit their website: https://ucap.help
For donations
Photo credit: UCAP. All photos used with permission