The war has brought a lot of distress to all Ukrainians, and minors are suffering the most. Many boys and girls are now located at Russian filtration camps; some were lost during missile attacks or lost their parents. Concerned Ukrainians want to give shelter or adopt these poor children, and they have an opportunity to do so.

A guide from “Direct Inclusion”

It is now possible to temporarily shelter children left without parents because of the war using a chatbot called “Dytyna ne sama” (“A child is not alone”), developed by UNICEF, the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, and the Office of the President. Apart from sheltering the children, it allows you to inform state authorities about homeless children or find your own lost child.

Those who want to shelter or adopt must meet the following criteria:

• Be a Ukrainian citizen and live on the state territory in safe zones;
• Guarantee a safe shelter for a child, with food, clothes, medical services, and educational opportunities;
• Have housing far from strategic and military facilities and equipped with places for the child to sleep and play.

Foreigners can shelter Ukrainian children via the chatbot only if there is a legal status of an organization that will be able to take care of an organized group of minors temporarily.

Alongside placing a request in the chatbot, one must notify the authorities. The program also provides a specialized course for people who want not to adopt children but to shelter them temporarily.

Currently, more than 18 thousand candidates are waiting to gain temporary custody.

The Charity Fund “Direct Inclusion” also reminds us that the police had previously created the chatbot “Poshuk ditei” (“Search for children”).