The European Commission will assist Ukraine in implementing the reform of the system of care and protection of children deprived of parental care. This was announced by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a statement to the media following a meeting with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in Kyiv.
"We have agreed with Mrs. Ursula that the European Commission will help us launch the reform of the system of care and protection of children who, unfortunately, do not have parental care," the Head of State noted.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that instead of boarding schools, Ukraine plans to create a system of family-type children’s homes. According to the President, a special office will be in charge of developing this important reform.
"This is not just an institutional change. The war pushes us, so this is an important civilizational change for Ukraine. This is a completely different attitude to a person, a different - correct - attitude to the family, to society as a whole," the Head of State said.
He noted that today the team of First Lady Olena Zelenska will meet with the President of the European Commission to discuss the details of this reform, as well as other areas of cooperation in the humanitarian sphere.
For her part, Ursula von der Leyen noted that Olena Zelenska had told her about the suffering of Ukrainian children who had been orphaned by Russian aggression.
"We cannot change this, but we can offer them comfort. They should live not in institutions, but in families, so that they grow up in love, have confidence and strength in their adult life," Ursula von der Leyen said.
She emphasized that the European Commission will support Ukraine to ensure that all orphans are taken care of properly.
"We will share our experience and provide financial assistance to bolster the development of this strategy," the President of the European Commission summarized.
