Solidarity with Ukraine: lasting commitment from Fondation de France
More than two years after Russia’s military offensive against Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Fondation de France is still very much involved in helping the people affected by the conflict. It has adjusted its strategic approach in the face of this war of attrition. Fondation de France now focuses its support on 13 key partners who meet a range needs for local communities. This includes helping the most vulnerable, rebuilding, defending human rights, providing psychological support to local people and organizations and so on – the aim being to optimize effectiveness, reinforce the framework and promote autonomy over the long term. We take a closer look at three of these initiatives.
Supporting Ukraine’s young people
Young people in Ukraine are particularly keen to help the people affected by the conflict. They renew their commitment daily by creating more inclusive and sustainable models for mutual assistance. Ukrainian NGO National Network of Local Philanthropy Development (NNLPD) supports and develops philanthropic initiatives as part of its “Youth Banks of Initiatives” program. The committees created by 14 to 25-year-olds organize events to fund their projects, such as film screenings. These “Youth Banks of Initiatives” utilize the funds received to launch a call for projects that address the social needs identified - including support for displaced people and educational projects - managing the entire process from selection and funding to project monitoring.
Since 2023, support from Fondation de France has enabled the number of Youth Banks to be extended from 9 to 23 across the country. This initiative equips them with a variety of skills, from fundraising to project management, while working directly for local communities. “For me, above all, Youth Banks is an opportunity to give young people what I never had: the possibility of achievement, being in an environment which is ready for change, and having the ability to influence reality,” explains project manager Maksym, at Youth Banks of Initiatives. Stepan, a young man from Hlynyany, a town in the Lviv region, adds: “We are the only ones who can develop our country to the point where we no longer need to go abroad to be happy. We can be happy in our own country. Our nation is a wonderful one, it just needs a helping hand.”
Young Ukrainians attending a meeting as part of the Youth Banks of Initiatives program. © D.R.
Reuniting families
Magnolia is a Ukrainian NGO dedicated to the search for missing children, especially those displaced illegally to occupied territories and Russia. To that end, it relies on intelligence tools and collaboration with media outlets, bloggers and IT professionals. From December 2023 to August 2024, the NGO provided psychological and legal support to 678 families. Thanks to the support of Fondation de France, it has recruited and trained psychologists and legal professionals to help parents and the families and friends of missing children, especially with its emergency helpline. It has contributed to the search for the missing 401 children, 305 of whom were found, including 128 who had been illegally moved or deported to Russia.
Reinforcing social cohesion through cinema
The war in Ukraine led to many people being displaced. The DOCU/CLUB network created by NGO Docudays aims to make it easier for these people to settle in their new communities by using documentary movies to raise awareness. The objective is to promote social cohesion, human rights and post-war reconstruction. Documentary movie clubs from the DOCU/CLUB network organize screenings in person and online. They are followed by lively moderated discussions with experts, community members and local authority representatives. These events provide secure spaces in which to address local issues and reinforce relationships, thus playing a crucial role in civil education in wartime. The network also offers training and mentoring programs to help club moderators improve their skills, including event organization, debate moderation and help with integration for displaced people. In 2024, there were 468 DOCU/CLUBs throughout Ukraine, which organized more than 1,000 events for an audience of around 16,000.