“Foster parents take on a number of roles, not only teaching their children, but also setting an example to them and guiding them through life,” she remarked. “Every moment spent with the children is one that shapes their futures – and in this particular case, that of a caring, well-educated and forward-looking Ukraine. The things these children practise and master outside of school hours is just as important as what they learn in the classroom. The role a family plays in supporting that and in encouraging curiosity is of enormous value in a child’s development.”
There are currently more than 1300 foster homes in Ukraine, each accommodating 5-10 children left without parental care. At least 80 such homes have been destroyed in the war. Three Ukrainian families are in Estonia at present for whom the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV), in cooperation with the Olena Zelenska Foundation, is helping to build foster care homes.
Gallery (Office of the President of the Republic/Karli Saul): https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBEp1k
