Foster Families Receive New Homes

Three large foster families in Ukraine’s Dnipro and Cherkasy regions have moved into newly built homes through the Olena Zelenska Foundation’s Room for Childhood project, according to the Ukrainian president’s official website. The homes are intended to support families caring for children and, in some cases, enable them to take in more children.

In Zolotonosha, Cherkasy region, First Lady Olena Zelenska visited the Kolesnikov family as they moved into their new residence. Denys and Darya Kolesnikov, who became foster parents in 2019, now care for eight children in a family-type children’s home. Their new barrier-free, energy-efficient property includes a shelter, furniture and household appliances.

Two additional families moved into homes in the Dnipro region. Olha Shyoshvili and Kostiantyn Kott, who are raising six children, needed more space than their previous home could provide. Svitlana and Leonid Kondratiuk became foster parents in 2023 and later became parent-educators to care for more children; they now raise four children.

The Dnipro homes were built by the foundation in partnership with the A. P. Moller Relief Foundation. The Cherkasy home was supported by the United Arab Emirates, which has funded the construction of 20 homes under the project. In total, 27 large foster families across Ukraine have received new homes through Room for Childhood.