UNICEF Europe and Central Asia | UNICEF Europe and Central Asia

From across the region

Sidi Soukoula (17) poses with his legal guardian Bernarda ‘Benni’ Monaco in Palermo, Italy.

Photo Essay

A guardian’s tale from Sicily

Volunteer legal guardians protect and support refugee and migrant children navigate a new life

Mohammad “Momo” El Saxed, an 18-year-old Egyptian migrant, with his foster parents in Vittuone, northern Italy.

Article

A new kind of 21st century family

In Italy, foster care families are taking in migrant children for the first time.

We have to save the fading beauty of the earth

Blog post

We have to save the fading beauty of the Earth

A reflection on the deep connection between human happiness and nature

Pavel Nikov, 42, with his daughter Paola, 4 and half years old.

Photo Essay

Every day should be Father’s Day

Pavel, a father from Bulgaria, on the support working parents need to spend more time with their children.

Shaha and Fari standing in front of their house in Fushe-Kosovo.

Article

From a cold hospital to a warm family

Shaha and Fari: a foster family’s journey

Aneta and Jan holding two of the boys they fostered.

Video Essay

Foster parents welcome three boys into their home and hearts

The joy of providing a loving family in Croatia

Watch the story

Our work

A boy carrying his belongings in a large cloth bag over his shoulder is among people walking on railway tracks to cross from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia into Serbia.

Protecting refugee and migrant children

Ina Morhun, 5, and her sister Lyuda, 3, sit on a sofa at their home as their mother Iryna holds baby Vika, 1.5, in the city of Toretsk, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine

Supporting children caught in conflict in Ukraine

A young child holds a little soft toy in her mouth while an older relative gives her a hug and kiss.

Healthy early childhood development

11-year-old Ajsa is photographed in front of a laptop, with her head in her hands.

Ending violence against children