UGB (Ukrgasbank) supports Children of Heroes Charity Fund programmes through the EBRD Community Initiative

UGB (Ukrgasbank) was one of 12 partners that collectively raised €50,000 for psychological support and education programmes for children who have lost one or both parents as a result of the war.

Following the fundraising campaign, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) contributed a further €50,000 through its matching mechanism, bringing the total funding for the initiative to €100,000.

The EBRD Community Initiative is a programme through which EBRD employees raise funds for charitable organisations, with the EBRD providing matching contributions to supported initiatives. The programme focuses on areas including support for vulnerable groups, healthcare, education and child development.

Children of Heroes Charity Fund will allocate the funds raised to three programmes: Svitliachok, Strength Within You, and a nine-month English language course for 315 children.

Svitliachok is a psychological support and recovery programme for younger children and their mothers. It combines individual counselling, group sessions with psychologists, art therapy and shared activities. The in-person format also allows psychologists to observe interactions between children and their mothers, assess each family’s needs and identify those who may require further support after the programme ends.

Strength Within You is another psychological support and recovery programme. Such programmes provide a structured, in-person environment where psychological support is combined with social interaction, helping children gradually reconnect with their peers.

The educational component of the initiative provides longer-term support, with 315 children taking English lessons over nine months.

“What matters most to us is that this initiative brings together businesses, an international partner and the Fund to address specific, long-term needs of children. Through the matching mechanism, contributions from partners have secured additional funding from the EBRD, increasing the resources we can direct towards supporting children. This funding covers both psychological recovery and education, where meaningful results require consistent support over an extended period,” said Hanna Khomenko, Director of Programme Management and Chief Operating Officer at Children of Heroes Charity Fund.

For UGB (Ukrgasbank), this initiative marks a continuation of its partnership with Children of Heroes Charity Fund. In 2023, the bank’s customers donated more than UAH 500,000 through ECO-bank Online to support children who had lost their parents as a result of the war.

Children of Heroes Charity Fund and the EBRD have also worked together previously. In 2023–2024, with support from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Fund implemented a psychological support project for children and their families worth more than UAH 5.9 million. The project delivered 5,529 psychological consultations, 228 group counselling sessions and 604 art therapy sessions.

“After losing their mother or father, children need to know that there are adults who will listen to them and offer support. Psychological counselling, spending time with peers and opportunities to learn can all help children gradually regain their confidence and their ability to dream about the future. For UGB, continuing our partnership with Children of Heroes Charity Fund means being there for children as they move forward. Together with the EBRD and other partners, we support programmes that provide children with this kind of long-term support,” said Volodymyr Ponomaryov, Acting Chairperson of the Management Board of UGB (Ukrgasbank).

We thank UGB (Ukrgasbank) for continuing its partnership with Children of Heroes Charity Fund and contributing to this initiative. This support enables the Fund to plan and deliver long-term psychological support and education programmes for children.