Children of Heroes Launch Ukraine’s First Youth-Led TikTok Media Channel
The Children of Heroes Charity Fund has announced the launch of TeenHero, a unique online TikTok channel created entirely by teenagers aged 15–18 whose parents were killed as a result of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
TeenHero is a space where these teenagers will speak in a language their peers understand, covering topics that are important to them: self-expression, hobbies, reviews, challenges, school life, volunteering, and emotions.
The teens will be mentored by a range of well-known Ukrainian creative professionals, including director and host Yevhen Synelnykov, singer and actress Sofia Leshyshak, dubbing and voice-over actress Mariia Yeremenko, actors Yevheniia Nepytaliuk and Nazar Borushok, the Ukrainian creative association “MUR,” and others. The platform for educators ‘Na Urok’ became the project’s information partner.
The goal of TeenHero is to help the teenagers move from trauma to action. By creating content, they learn media literacy, storytelling, and video production, discovering their own creative potential. The main principle of the project is “the voice belongs to the teens”: they write the scripts, film, and edit the videos themselves. The Fund provides mentorship and psychological safety, but all editorial decisions are made by the youth team.
“We strive to give the children the best possible start: confidence in their own abilities, a sense of value in their voice, and, most importantly, the freedom to express themselves and be heard. We believe that the generation growing up during the war has profound meanings and perspectives—it’s time for other Ukrainians to see and hear them,” says Tetiana Novytska, CEO of the Children of Heroes Charity Fund.
“TeenHero allows me not to be afraid to show my emotions. Not to be afraid of being judged for something. It also allows me to discover different sides of myself,” says Arina, 16, a TeenHero contributor.
“By turning their feelings, experiences, and thoughts into video content, teenagers are not only talking about their experience but also healing it. They stop being just witnesses or victims of circumstances—they become the authors of stories that shape a new reality. This is a space where not only media literacy but also self-worth is formed,” explains Marta Bilyk, psychologist at the Children of Heroes Charity Fund.
The Fund also guarantees the participants’ complete safety. All content undergoes careful moderation in accordance with ethical standards: personal data, sensitive, or traumatic details are not published, ensuring the psychological comfort of both the creators and the viewers.
Follow TeenHero on TikTok, where teenagers who have experienced loss are finding their voices again and turning their personal stories into inspiration for others.
