Olena Zelenska Foundation has signed the Memorandum of partnership with the Open Society Foundations: $1 million will be directed to support children in Ukraine

The Open Society Foundations have decided to join the projects of Olena Zelenska Foundation to help children, that are growing up in large foster families in the frontline, de-occupied, and war-affected regions of Ukraine. $1 million will be allocated to create conditions for the development of Ukrainian children, to give them a break from the war, create opportunities for socialization, and improve their mental well-being.

A meeting was held between the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, the Director of her Foundation, Nina Horbachova, the Head of the Open Society Foundations, Alexander Soros, the Executive Director of the International Renaissance Foundation, Oleksandr Sushko, and their team.

Following the meeting, a Memorandum of partnership was signed between the Olena Zelenska Foundation and the International Renaissance Foundation.

"At the heart of every project of my Foundation is the individual, and first and foremost, the children. With our team, we strive to do everything possible so that children in Ukraine can learn, develop their talents, socialize, and have a childhood despite the war. I'm grateful to the Open Society Foundations for their intention to cooperate and partner with us," said Olena Zelenska, the First Lady of Ukraine and founder of the Foundation.

Among the Foundation's key projects are providing children with gadgets for online education, setting up bomb shelters in schools and kindergartens, supporting large foster families, especially from frontline and de-occupied regions, organizing vacations away from conflict zones to improve the mental well-being of the children, and more.

"In over a year of operation, the Foundation has united philanthropists and patrons from 25 countries worldwide in support of Ukraine. Grateful that we now have a new partner — Open Society Foundations. Thanks to their contribution, we will be able to scale our projects, especially those aimed at the development, socialization, recreation, and improvement of the mental well-being of children growing up in large foster families," said Nina Horbachova, the Director of Olena Zelenska Foundation.