Ukraine

Help for children with cancer

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The war in Ukraine has caused immeasurable suffering among the population. Children in the pediatric oncology wards of hospitals in the Volyn, Rivne, and Lviv regions have been particularly hard hit. Vital cancer treatments are severely limited due to scarce resources. We are therefore committed to providing targeted medical care for children with cancer in the Volyn, Rivne, and Lviv regions.

At a glance

Target audience

Children with cancer in the war-torn regions of Volyn, Rivne, and Lviv in Ukraine

Goal

Support for the medical treatment and recovery of Ukrainian children with cancer

Partners & Donors

Child Well-Being Fund

Background

The war in Ukraine has brought immeasurable suffering to the population. Children in the pediatric oncology wards of hospitals in the Volyn, Rivne, and Lviv regions are particularly hard hit. In addition to battling their serious illnesses, they now face the added burdens of war: destroyed medical infrastructure, acute shortages of medication, and regular power outages have become part of their daily lives.

 

Ukrainian hospitals are forced to prioritize their already scarce resources for treating war casualties. As a result, vital cancer treatments are severely restricted. For a child with cancer, however, an interruption in therapy often means the end of hope for a cure.

 

While some children were able to be taken abroad for treatment, most have since returned and must continue their fight against the disease under the most difficult conditions. The long-term consequences are alarming: Experts fear that delayed diagnoses and interrupted treatments will dramatically increase the number of cancer deaths in Ukraine in the coming years. Even now, the actual number of deaths is higher than officially recorded due to inadequate data collection in the war-torn regions.

More than 1,000 children with cancer were forced to flee their homes because of the war, often without any plan for further treatment.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Ukraine; in 2020 alone, there were 1.2 million patients and 160,000 new diagnoses.

On July 8, 2024, the largest children’s hospital in Ukraine was struck by a missile and severely damaged.

Donate to Ukraine now!

Our Commitment to Ukraine

In the regions of Volyn, Rivne, and Lviv, which have been severely affected by the war, we are committed to providing targeted medical care for children with cancer. To ensure continuous and effective treatment on the ground, we supply several children’s hospitals in Rivne and Lviv with urgently needed medications and medical supplies that are essential for the care and recovery of these young patients.

This includes, among other things, supporting complex treatments in the neurosurgery department of the Lviv Clinical Center for Pediatrics. Here, for example, we provide surgical kits, needles, scalpel blades, syringes, and other essential supplies required for surgical procedures. 

One of the affected children is little David. Although the boy is only a year and a half old, he is already well known to the doctors at the hospital. He has a cyst in his brain that is compressing vital control centers responsible for organ function. The surgery, which was essential due to the severe symptoms, posed major financial challenges for David’s parents. His mother, Roxolana, speaks of her deep gratitude for the support and the skilled doctors who are caring for her son. Thanks to the surgery, David will soon be able to go for walks through Lviv with his mother again—walks he loves so much. 

Anastasia also relies on our support. She was born with a spinal lipoma, a tumor in the spinal canal of her spine that causes nerve compression. As a result, Anastasia has back pain and very weak legs. She has already undergone surgery, but the necessary regular treatment is expensive. Despite her severe pain, Anastasia is a bright and cheerful girl. She and her parents hope that she can make a full recovery through further treatment so that the three of them can spend more time together—outside the hospital. 

Your donation makes a difference!

Medications

By purchasing urgently needed medical supplies and often expensive medications, cancer treatments can be carried out.

Donate €30

Surgery

Performing life-saving surgeries on children with cancer is crucial to their recovery.

Donate €65

Features

The neurosurgery department at the children's hospital must be properly equipped to treat the children.

Donate €120

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Your donation helps create a world where children can grow up safely, develop freely, and overcome poverty.

Häufig gefragt

What does ChildFund Germany stand for, and what is the goal of its work?

Our goal is to bring about lasting improvements in the future prospects of children in need, their families, and their entire communities. Through our commitment to these children and families, we aim to make a positive difference and create lasting improvements, always guided by the principle of helping people help themselves. This enables them to exercise their rights, overcome poverty and dependency, and lead independent and self-determined lives.

How can I be sure that my donation actually reaches its destination?

The efficient use of the donations entrusted to us is our top priority. To ensure that our aid is used in a highly targeted manner, we rely on close collaboration with local partner organizations in all the countries where we operate, so that our assistance meets the specific needs on the ground. Furthermore, all our support is guided by the principle of helping people help themselves. This ensures that the people in our projects benefit from long-term and lasting changes and, in the long run, no longer depend on aid but can live independently and self-determinedly. Our transparent and responsible handling of donations is also confirmed by the DZI Donation Seal, which we have been awarded continuously since 1995 by the German Central Institute for Social Issues.

How does ChildFund Germany work?

Our work is made possible by three sources of funding: sponsorships, other donations, and public funds. Our projects funded by sponsorships are designed for the long term. They are characterized by particularly close collaboration between our partner organizations in the respective project country and the local communities.

 

The donation-based and publicly funded projects have a shorter duration. Due to the limited timeframe, these projects require more intensive planning and support on our part.

 

In all projects, ChildFund plays two specific roles: First, raising funds so that the project work can be implemented at all. And second, bringing together and building bridges between those who provide money and expertise and those who lack these resources. The goal is to maximize mutual benefit from the collaboration and to advance our projects in the most effective way possible.

What kinds of projects does ChildFund Germany carry out?

Our projects, which are funded through sponsorships, are designed for the long term. They are characterized by particularly close collaboration between our partner organizations in the respective project country and the local communities.

 

The donation-based and publicly funded projects have a shorter duration. Due to the limited timeframe, these projects require more intensive planning and support on our part.

What regions and issues does ChildFund Germany focus on?

We operate in various countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. Our work focuses primarily on education, nutrition, livelihood support, and child protection, as well as humanitarian aid in emergency situations. Issues such as health and climate protection are also central to many of our projects.

How can I support ChildFund Germany?

There are many different ways to support our work. From a one-time donation to a regular donation as a “Future Donor” to becoming a sponsor, you are free to choose the form of support that best suits you. Long-term and particularly sustainable support can also take the form of a foundation or a bequest. We also offer a range of customized support options for businesses and schools.

How many people does ChildFund Germany reach?

Through our work, we reach people in over 30 countries around the world. Our projects benefit more than 80,000 children, their families, and their communities.

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Your donation helps create a world where children can grow up safely, develop freely, and overcome poverty.

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