A child is never defined by their experience: Butterflies of Hope 2026 summit
Wounds caused by war can be hidden in silence, dreams, fears, trust issues, and uncertainty about one’s future. In order to see these wounds, we have to notice changes in the child’s behavior, not dismiss their pain by calling it “difficult behavior,” and help them receive proper professional support.
A trusted adult becomes an “emotional refuge” for the child. This person is someone who reminds the child that they are not alone.
A trusted adult becomes an “emotional refuge” for the child. This person is someone who reminds the child that they are not alone.
On September 25–26, the “Butterflies of Hope – 2026” summit on pediatric palliative care took place. During the event, Oksana Lebedeva, founder of Gen.Ukrainian and the Gen.Hope Center of Excellence, shared insights on how to recognize a child’s invisible wounds and create the conditions for their recovery.
At the City of Goodness, a child is not defined by a diagnosis, nor at Gen.Ukrainian by a traumatic experience. We are united by the belief that every child deserves dignity, a sense of safety, and the right to enjoy their one and only childhood.
Through the Gen.Hope Center of Excellence, Gen.Ukrainian transforms practical experience working with children into evidence-based knowledge, professional approaches, and systemic solutions so that the experiences of war do not limit children’s futures. So that no child remains invisible to people or the system. Because every child matters. It is our shared responsibility as adults to see, to be there, and to act.
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You don’t always see blood when war hurts a child. The deepest wounds are often invisible. And if we truly want to save childhood, we must learn to see and heal both kinds of wounds
Located in the City of Goodness, “Dim Metelykiv” is Ukraine’s only charity hospice for children, where palliative care is free for orphaned and seriously ill children. Even when a disease is incurable, the care continues. There children are surrounded by medical care, compassion, and a sense of life; their pain and discomfort are eased, and there is still room in their lives for closeness and joy.
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Every day matters. And we should cherish it. The most precious thing I can hear is when our children at the hospice ask, ‘What’s going to be cool today?’ They know for sure that something cool will happen. That there will be life, that it will be interesting, and most importantly, it won’t hurt
Help us support children in Ukraine. Saving childhood is not just about protecting children from danger. It means restoring their dignity, their right to be heard, and a space where they are seen, heard, and accepted.
Being there is action.
Being there is action.
100% of the funds raised support our mission to protect childhood in Ukraine
Together, we can help children recover from the impact of war, protect their ability to develop and imagine a future, and build a system of support that will stay with this generation for as long as it is needed.
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Psychological support to children is provided free of charge thanks to patronage
The purpose of the Gen.Camp:
stabilization of the psychological and emotional state of a child after a traumatic experience.
The duration of the program: 21 days.
Location: Ukraine.
stabilization of the psychological and emotional state of a child after a traumatic experience.
The duration of the program: 21 days.
Location: Ukraine.
