UNICEF chatbot helps foster teen find support in Ukraine

For most people, losing their family once would be heartbreaking enough. To lose them twice would be unthinkable.

For 16-year-old Andriy, who had spent seven years living with a foster family in eastern Ukraine, life fell apart for a second time in February after war broke out while he was hospitalised. When the violence reached his home city of Izyum, in the Kharkivska region, he lost touch with his foster family overnight.

"My family is still not in touch,” says the teenager. “I have two brothers, I spoke to them for the last time two months ago. I don't know what's going on with them now."

Thankfully, one couple was waiting in the wings to offer him a temporary home.

Lyudmila and Oleksandr Loginovs from Kharkiv found out about Andriy's story through UNICEF's ‘Leave No Child Alone’ chatbot. This project helps to connect families that are willing to help with children left without parental care during wartime. Upon discovering it, the couple decided to apply.

"We have to help each other in difficult times,” says Oleksandr. “Especially when it involves children seeking help.”

After completing a short online course about caring for and bringing up children, Oleksandr and Lyudmila visited the hospital to offer Andriy their support.

"Our initial intention was to provide this child a home,” says Oleksandr. “We didn't think we would choose and look for options. Gender or age didn't matter for us.”

Andriy has lived with his foster family for two and a half months. In his spare time, he enjoys cycling, hanging out with his new friends, volunteering and gardening, and will soon attend a private school.

He says his biggest dream is to see his brothers again.

Oleksandr is keen to remind people that the ‘Leave No Child Alone’ project is about giving temporary shelter to a child who has been left without parental care.

"This is not about adoption,” he says. “But in these difficult times, when a child has nowhere to go, we can and we have to help."

“The project aims to protect a child from institutional care so that they can be brought up in a family where they can receive the necessary attention."

‘Leave No Child Alone’ is a nationwide initiative by the Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for Rights of Children and Children Rehabilitation, the Office of the President of Ukraine, together with UNICEF and the Ministry of Social Policy.

> Learn more: How to help an unaccompanied child during martial law in Ukraine