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In Dnipro, a long-term torture of six children in a family-type orphanage (DBST) has been exposed. According to the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Prosecutor's Office and police , the children lived for years in an atmosphere of fear, physical pain, and systemic humiliation. The facts, published in the materials of " Ukrainska Pravda " , are shocking: this was not a single outburst of anger, but a pattern of violence built up over years. However, it is important to understand the context: despite this terrible incident, family-type orphanages remain a worthy and necessary alternative to boarding schools. All over the world, boarding schools are officially recognized as places of deprivation of freedom, where torture and degradation of the personality are often part of the system itself, and not the crime of individual people. In boarding schools, the child is deprived of individuality, and violence often becomes a tool for “management” of a large group. DBST, even in crisis situations, provides for a family model, which, provided that proper control is provided, is the only chance for the child for a normal future. But the most painful question in the Dnipro case is another: How could it have lasted five years? During this time, a group of people were with the children to ensure their safety: Children's Services. They are required to conduct regular inspections and monitor living conditions. School. Teachers saw the children every day, their psychological state, and their physical appearance. Doctors: Routine examinations and treatments should reveal traces of physical impact. Social workers. Those who should provide support to the family. This case does not indicate the shortcomings of the idea of family upbringing itself, but the critical failure of control mechanisms. When inspections become a formality, and state bodies turn a blind eye to "inconvenient" signals, the system becomes an accomplice in the crime. The tragedy in Dnipro is a call for an immediate revision of how the state supervises the safety of children in all forms of upbringing. Why do children stay silent? We often assume that a child will tell us if they are in pain. But abuse is not just about hitting. It is about a complete loss of control over one's life and sense of security. A child is silent when: does not trust adults; she had already tried to speak and was not heard; afraid that it will get worse; convinced that she is to blame; lives in an environment where violence is called "upbringing." In this case, the signal appeared only when the eldest child left the system and was able to seek help. Before that, she turned to various institutions, trying to get support, but was actually not heard. Only after contacting public organizations and providing legal support by MARTIN Club, the case received procedural movement and an investigation began. This is a very revealing moment. A safe environment for a complaint arose not inside the system, but outside it. This means that the problem is not just the cruelty of specific people. The problem is in the defense mechanisms that have not worked. Formal control ≠ real security The presence of inspections does not guarantee their effectiveness, and control focused on papers does not provide security to the child. The child protection system often works reactively — after a complaint is made. But if a child doesn't have a real, safe channel to report abuse, a complaint won't come forward. And then silence is perceived as the absence of a problem. The head of the NGO MARTIN-club, Victoria Fedotova, describes this situation as follows: "Analysis of the current situation indicates the inexpediency of searching for individual culprits, the problem is the lack of timely detection of violations. The reasons for silence were institutional weakness and professional deformation and indifference of responsible persons to signals from children. The combination of these factors — from an inadequate level of qualification to a formal approach to performing duties — created an environment in which the child was left without proper protection." What needs to change — otherwise it will happen again This case cannot remain just another criminal proceeding. If we do not change our approaches, similar stories will be repeated — in another community, in another family, in another institution. After this case, at the system level it is necessary to: 1. Real independent monitoring. Not just official inspections, but mechanisms that do not depend on the same decision-making structures. 2. Regular individual conversations with children without the presence of guardians are mandatory. The child must have a guaranteed space to talk. 3. Effective complaint channels available to the child himself. Not formal "hotlines", but clear and safe tools. 4. Personal liability of officials in case of ignoring signals. Without this, control remains a formality. 5. Working with trust. The most important thing is that the system should not be punitive, but one that the child believes in. Because the main problem of this story is not only torture. The main problem is that for years the children did not believe that anyone would hear them. And if we don't create an environment in which a child knows they won't be betrayed, no amount of reform will be enough. MARTIN-club accompanies the affected children in this proceeding and represents their interests in the courts and law enforcement agencies. We provide not only legal, but also psychological support to minimize the risk of re-traumatization and help children go through this difficult process without additional pressure. Our task is to ensure that this case does not disappear in the system, and that the rights of children are truly protected.

Ukraine is on the threshold of historic changes. The issue of joining the EU is not only about customs or borders. It is, first of all, about how the state treats the most vulnerable - children. Today, the deinstitutionalization (DI) reform has become one of the key conditions for European integration. Tough EU conditionality: Ukraine Facility and the Child Rights Strategy The European Union has clearly articulated its position in the Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2021–2024): no child should be deprived of family care. For Ukraine, this means a complete rethinking of the social system. Financial aspect: There is a direct prohibition under the Ukraine Facility assistance program. Reconstruction funds cannot be used for major repairs or expansion of residential institutions. The money is allocated exclusively for: Development of inclusive services in communities. Construction of small group homes (SGB). Support for foster families and DBST (family-type children's homes). Economic absurdity: Why are boarding schools expensive? There is a myth that maintaining one large institution is cheaper than developing a network of services. Statistics and audits say the opposite. Cost analysis: 80-85% of the boarding school's budget is spent on "walls and staff": heating huge half-empty buildings, salaries of administrative staff, security, and household needs. Only 15-20% of the funds go directly to the child's needs (food, clothing, development). Cost of maintenance: According to various estimates, maintaining one child in a boarding school costs the state from 15,000 to 30,000 UAH per month, but at the end we get a graduate who is often not adapted to independent life. Instead, funding community services (day care, early intervention, social support) allows the child to remain in the biological family, which is many times cheaper for the budget and more effective for the child's future. Sabotage on the ground: Why is the system resisting? The main obstacle to reform is not a lack of funds, but a reluctance to change. Many officials and heads of institutions view boarding schools as a "city-forming enterprise" where the child is just a tool for obtaining budget allocations. "We're used to it," "where will we put the staff?", "it's better for the children there" — these are typical arguments of those who do not want to learn to work according to European standards. Experts are increasingly calling Soviet-style boarding schools "concentration camps for children" because of the systemic degradation of personality, lack of privacy, and breakdown of social ties. Continuing discussions about their "improvement" is deliberately harming children. Time to get modern There will be money. And there will be enough of it. But it will only come to those communities that: They will find the courage to admit: the old system is dead. They will involve professionals: people who want to learn to be competent managers of social services, not "supervisors." They will create conditions for inclusion: so that parents of children with disabilities do not send them to institutions out of desperation, but receive assistance close to home. European integration is a test of humanity. And we will be able to pass it only when the interests of the child become more precious than the comfort of an official who does not want to retrain. How can a community obtain funding from the EU? European donors and the Ukraine Facility are ready to invest billions in recovery, but they will not finance the “past.” To receive funds for social development, the community must demonstrate a willingness to make real changes. Step 1. Conduct a thorough audit and needs assessment It is impossible to build something new without understanding the scale of the problem. The community must clearly know: How many children from the community are in boarding schools (24/7). What are the reasons for children being placed in institutions (poverty, disability, lack of kindergarten or school). What services are families lacking in the area? Step 2. Transforming budget thinking The money should “follow the child.” Instead of maintaining huge, half-empty spaces, the community should redirect funds to: Children's services and social workers (there should be enough of them and they should be mobile). Creation of a Center for Social Services with a wide range of assistance (day care, psychologist, speech therapist). Step 3. Training and retraining of personnel This is the most difficult stage — overcoming the resistance of officials. The community must find people who want to work differently: Train boarding school teachers to work as teaching assistants in inclusive classrooms. Prepare social workers for case management (supporting a specific family in crisis). Stop discussing the "advisability" of boarding schools and start studying the European experience of family upbringing. Step 4. Development of family forms of upbringing and inclusion EU funding is prioritized for: Construction of small group homes (houses for 6-8 children, where conditions are as close as possible to family ones). Support and creation of new Family-type Children's Homes (FCH). Creating inclusive resource centers so that a child with a disability can live at home and receive assistance in the community. Step 5. Developing a strategic plan and submitting an application Donors (UNICEF, EU, World Bank) demand a clear strategy. The community must show a plan: how it plans to return children from orphanages in 2-3 years and what services it will create for this. It is important to remember: Money will come where there is a will for change. If the community holds on to an outdated boarding school to save the jobs of three administrators, it loses. If the community chooses a child, it receives European investments and a future.

Today marks four years since the start of the full-scale invasion. And twelve years of Russia's war against Ukraine. Yesterday the team worked on the topic of evacuation. It has been with us all these years. We ourselves went through evacuation in 2014. We evacuated thousands of people and are now accompanying families who are forced to leave their homes due to hostilities. Evacuation is not a one-time action, but a process: preparation, coordination, security, support after departure. And it continues every day. Today, part of the team is training with partners to become trainers on the topic of preparedness and protection in cases of conflict. We understand that knowledge and skills must be passed on - to communities, specialists, those who work on the ground. And this knowledge and skills about survival in our conditions. The war did not stop the violence. Domestic violence remains, and in conditions of stress and displacement it often intensifies. The war has added to our cases of conflict-related sexual violence. These are complex, long-term cases that last for years, regardless of the duration of the projects. This is a time of constant turbulence. At night we go down to shelters because of rocket attacks. And in the morning we go to where they have already happened - we provide first psychological aid, social support, help people who have just experienced loss or shock. The organization has grown over this time — in terms of team, geography of work, and level of expertise. This growth has occurred in very difficult circumstances. We have learned new things, restructured processes, and strengthened areas of psychological, social, and legal assistance, humanitarian response, and community work. And it is very painful that this growth has come at such a cost. Now local organizations are taking responsibility where it is needed: in communities, in crisis situations, in difficult topics that you can't turn away from. In the face of daily challenges — security, social, economic, geopolitical — you just keep doing what you can. Take care of those around you. Protect children. Support women. Help communities hold on. We continue to do our part of the work — supporting women, children, and communities, working on the prevention and consequences of violence and war, and training other professionals. We thank those who defend Ukraine. Thanks to this, we can continue to work. We can bring warmth and support to women, children, and communities. We can build a society that learns to protect and support each other even in the most difficult times.

ГО МАРТІН-клуб - допомога дітям з 24-річним досвідом. 7-річний досвід у запобіганні та протидії домашньому і гендерно зумовленому (в тому числі сексуальному) насильству. 10-річний досвід підтримки ВПО. На рахунку організації евакуація 16800 людей з Донецької та Луганскої областей до інших безпечних регіонів України. Ми співпрацювали з більше ніж 50 донорами, налагодили партнерство з усіма акторами у сфері прав дітей та жінок та реалізували більше 60 проєктів у різних сферах підтримки. IMG20250813125405 (1) 1/7 Warmth and protection for children in trouble We help children and women overcome the consequences of difficult life circumstances, war, and violence, promote their acquisition of resourcefulness and the necessary social competencies to change their lives for the better, and thus influence the construction of the entire society. Learn more about us Learn more about us Children1 children_2 Children1 1/5 Warmth and protection for children in trouble We help children and women overcome the consequences of difficult life circumstances, war, and violence, promote their acquisition of resourcefulness and the necessary social competencies to change their lives for the better, and thus influence the construction of the entire society. Learn more about us 25 100 years of support employees clients 239 000+ 100+ services projects done 86 000+ Our mission is to create opportunities for children and women to help their families overcome violence, the effects of war, and difficult life circumstances Read more Vyedrintseva and other v. Ukraine Several years ago in Dnipro, a young woman — the mother of three children — died. The official cause of death was a heart attack. At the same time, her body showed more than 70 bruises, neighbors repeatedly called the police because of beatings, and the children were witnessing violence every day. The case was closed seven times — and each time the decisions to terminate the criminal proceedings were overturned. Thanks to the work of Yuliia Seheda, Head of the Legal Departmen Anti-violence Feb 3 2 min read 1 2 3 4 5 Read more Donors and partners

Peacebuilding is a very important aspect of the work of the NGO MARTIN-club, which contributes to strengthening social cohesion and restoring trust in a society affected by war. Peace building Work directions / Peacebuilding / Peacebuilding is a very important aspect of the work of the NGO MARTIN-club , which contributes to strengthening social cohesion and restoring trust in a society affected by war. As part of this, we focus on restorative justice , which allows war victims to express their experiences, find justice and be heard. The importance of establishing justice cannot be underestimated, as it not only restores the dignity of victims, but also contributes to the formation of a more just society, where the rights of everyone are taken into account. Restorative justice restores relationships and creates the basis for a future world. Community safety is another key aspect of our work. We strive to ensure that the rights and freedoms of all people are protected, especially those who have suffered the most from violence. An important tool in this process is the documentation of human rights violations during war , which allows not only to identify the perpetrators, but also to shape policies that prevent similar crimes in the future. A clear understanding of the history and causes of war serves as the basis for building a safe environment for all community members. Forum theater is used as a method of dialogue to engage communities in discussing complex social issues, including the consequences of war and ways to overcome them. This innovative approach allows participants to reflect on their own experiences, as well as propose solutions to restore peace and justice. Reparations for war victims are another component of our program, although they not only compensate for the harm caused, but also serve as a symbol of recognition. Thanks to the efforts of the NGO MARTIN-club, we, together with the community, are building a new, peaceful reality , where justice is a fundamental principle for a restored society.

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/54010a_f6800f31f6ab40ed9521bf6baa1e8efa~mv2.jpg Julia Szeged head of legal service, lawyer This is your About page. This space is a great opportunity to give a full background on who you are, what you do and what your site has to offer. Your users are genuinely interested in learning more about you, so don't be afraid to share personal anecdotes to create a more friendly quality. Every website has a story, and your visitors want to hear yours. This space is a great opportunity to provide any personal details you want to share with your followers. Include interesting anecdotes and facts to keep readers engaged. Double click on the text box to start editing your content and make sure to add all the relevant details you want site visitors to know. If you're a business, talk about how you started and share your professional journey. Explain your core values, your commitment to customers and how you stand out from the crowd. Add a photo, gallery or video for even more engagement. This is your About page. This space is a great opportunity to give a full background on who you are, what you do and what your site has to offer. Your users are genuinely interested in learning more about you, so don't be afraid to share personal anecdotes to create a more friendly quality. Every website has a story, and your visitors want to hear yours. This space is a great opportunity to provide any personal details you want to share with your followers. Include interesting anecdotes and facts to keep readers engaged. Double click on the text box to start editing your content and make sure to add all the relevant details you want site visitors to know. If you're a business, talk about how you started and share your professional journey. Explain your core values, your commitment to customers and how you stand out from the crowd. Add a photo, gallery or video for even more engagement.