By Bonnie Williams | Passionate change-maker for kids
Since 2015, Kidsave has been at work in Ukraine to help the government address the problem of 106,000 children living in institutions and the fact that only 6% of them are available for adoption.
To help and protect these children Kidsave started two programs – one, a pilot program to match 45 children with a caring host or mentor or move them into family-based care. That 2-year pilot is nearing its conclusion Dec. 31, 2021, and has been very successful -- with 75% of the 45 children now matched with a family, adopted or with a legal guardian. The hope is that all the children will be matched by year-end. Soon, an evaluation will be done and the program will likely be expanded.
The other program, called “Pathways to Success” is a workforce readiness and corporate mentoring program that leads Ukraine's at-risk institutionalized and emancipated youth to workforce readiness and economic self-proficiency through financial/legal/business literacy and career-focused mentoring.
It builds strong, long-term relationships between young people and successful adults who guide, teach, coach, and help youth find their way into responsible adulthood with good expectations. Pathway to Success Project in Ukraine has been recognized among 300 world’s best innovative practices implementing 6 of 17 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Kidsave founded and supports a Mentoring Association which has been well-received by companies who are helping mentor the young people and find them jobs.
COVID lockdowns have made in-person events difficult and limited the results, but in 2021 we expect to serve an additional 30 older youth and expand in Kiev and Lybov and other cities.
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By Bonnie Williams | Staff member
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