Who We Are
Giving hope and a future to some of the 50,000+ street children in Kyiv.
Welcome to The Ark.
Father's Care is a non-profit, non-sectarian humanitarian organization that since 1999 has been involved in giving hope and a future to some of the 50,000+ street children in Kiev. Registered with the government of Ukraine, the charitable fund Father's Care [Batkivska Turbota in Ukrainian] focuses on the restoration of the family.
But beyond the legal, official definition of who is Father's Care is the real nuts and bolts answer - and that is that Father's Care is not an organization, but people. Through simply ordinary people like you who care and want to make a difference in this world, Father's Care brings hope. We are here living in Ukraine, caring for the lost and hurting children, but without your support we could not exist.
Our History & Approach
A Crucial Population Left Behind
In a country trying desperately to catch up with the rest of Europe, a crucial population is being quickly left behind. Since the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991, Ukraine’s at-risk youth population has grown exponentially. The seemingly overnight transition to democracy and a free market economy brought about much turmoil and massive amounts of unemployment. Harsh financial conditions lead to millions of jobless adults, who, sadly, are taking their frustration and powerlessness out on their children.
Substance abuse, domestic violence and neglect have forced many children onto the streets or into the hands of the state. This is where we came in. In 1999, we opened our doors in hopes of giving these children the chance to have a real childhood. Father’s Care intervenes in situations where children have been neglected or abandoned, often at the request of the Ukrainian Ministry of Family and Children.
How We Rehabilitate
In a society that often stigmatizes orphans and social orphans, we warmly accept each child and work to socially, emotionally, mentally, spiritually and physically rehabilitate in a manner that is neither overwhelming nor judgmental.
When the time is right and parents or other family members are ready, we carefully work to restore broken homes and place children back in the hands of their biological relatives. If this is not feasible, we work tirelessly to coordinate an adoptive setting where they can experience the love of family.
The People Behind The Ark.
OUR TEAM: Father's Care emerged from the vision of two American women to see the restoration of the family here in Ukraine through the rescue and rehabilitation of street children and children at-risk. However, Father's Care has grown far beyond the concern of those two to include a staff of caring Ukrainians. We have caregivers, a doctor, a nurse, and teachers and general maintenance personnel.
Father's Care is not a branch of any government, humanitarian or even religious organization, although we will gladly work with any of those that share our vision. We are not underwritten by any grant or fund, and depend solely on the generosity of ongoing donations from individuals and groups. Only the Ukrainian staff receive salaries for their work at Father's Care.
Transparency
& Trust
Father’s Care is completely sustained by the gifts of private donors from several countries. We are a registered non-governmental organization with a United States 501 (c) 3 classification.