On the 26th of May at 11 p.m. a press conference  "Care leavers: from State Care to Independence" will be held for the launch of 3 year Ukrainian-Swiss project "Sure Start: Care-Leavers' Integration Programme" (Kyiv Oblast State Administration, room 740, 1, Lesi Ukrayinky sq.).

Project aims to develop a model of social adaptation and professional integration for independent living  for children in out-of-home care in Ukraine.

Participants: Head of Kyiv Oblast State Administration - Anatoliy Prysyazhnyuk, International Social Service, Swiss Branch, Director - Rolf Widmer, Head of Board "Partnership for Every Child" - Volodymyr Kuzminskyy.

Project participant

The new initiative of Kyiv Oblast State Administration, "Partnership for Every Child" and Swiss Branch of International Social Services during 3 years will reach 800 orphans and children deprived of parental care, including care leavers from residential institutions; youth from foster families, family-based children's homes and children under guardianship.

Project innovations include development of mentoring system and creation of living space for care leavers. Ordinary flats will be used as the living space to prepare care leavers for independent life. These facilities will be organized to address the needs of the young people, in areas that are close to a family, work, studies and community.

During press-conference participants will discuss problems of social integration and adaptation of care-leavers, international experience in assistance to youth leaving care, will provide data for existing services for vulnerable youth in Kyiv Oblast.  

During press-conference journalists will receive:

• - detailed information on "social orphanhood" in Kyiv Oblast;
• - illustrated case studies of care leavers from residential institutions;
• - detailed project information.

Registration starts at 10.30

Contacts: 

(044) 359 02 10 - Partnership for Every Child, Oksana Shved, os@everychild.org.ua