rom March 28 to April 5, 2025, ten children whose fathers were killed or went missing while defending Ukraine spent a rehabilitation trip in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. The journey was made possible through the joint efforts of Initiative E+, the Embassy of Ukraine in Egypt, and generous donors.
Sharm el-Sheikh welcomed the children with sea, sun, swimming pools, and water parks. For many of them, it was the first real break since losing their father — and the first chance in a long time to simply be a child.
Ukrainian psychologists were present throughout. They worked quietly and carefully, helping the children process difficult emotions at their own pace, without pressure. Back home, mothers liked photos and struggled to hold back tears. And the children laughed — the way they hadn't laughed in a long time.
The humanitarian initiative took place as part of a project for the rehabilitation and recovery of Ukrainian children abroad — one of the priority areas for Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha. Initiative E+ handled the coordination, covering everything from flights and accommodation to every document that needed to be filed. Diplomatic support was provided by the Embassy of Ukraine in Egypt; financial support came from private donors.
Rehabilitation trips for children of Ukrainian defenders are one of the core areas of Initiative E+'s work. We have been doing this since 2015: every summer, the team organizes camps in the Carpathians for children from frontline communities and children of killed or severely wounded soldiers. The trip to Egypt was a continuation of that long-standing commitment — now extended beyond Ukraine's borders.
Children who have lost a parent to war carry a trauma that does not go away on its own. A rehabilitation trip is not a luxury or a reward. It is a space where a child can breathe, where specialists are nearby, and where — for a few days — they can simply be themselves.
That is exactly the kind of opportunity Initiative E+ and its partners are working to make available to as many children of Ukrainian defenders as possible.
This trip is one of many steps in work that never stops. If you would like to support initiatives like this or learn more about what we do, reach out to us today.
