SOS Children's Villages Denmark
SOS Children's Villages Denmark
Ukraine faces two interconnected challenges: rebuilding communities affected by war and supporting children who need stable family environments.
Children's Living Places brings these challenges together in a single model. Initiated by SOS Children's Villages Denmark, the project supports children without parental care, children at risk of losing parental care and foster families through new family-based care environments in Ukraine.
Three locations are planned across the country, combining foster family homes, social support facilities and shared community spaces. Children will live with foster families, receive psychosocial support and have access to environments designed to support everyday life, learning and development.
By bringing together housing, care and community, Children's Living Places explores how rebuilding can create stronger foundations for children, families and future generations.
Renders: EFFEKT
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A Different Way Forward
Ukraine has one of the highest rates of children living in institutional care in Europe, while the war has damaged or destroyed more than 10% of the country's housing stock.
As reconstruction continues, there is an opportunity to rethink how children and families are supported.
Children's Living Places contributes to Ukraine's ongoing transition from institutional care to family-based care. The project combines housing and support services within environments designed to help children grow up as part of a family and a community rather than within institutional settings.
The ambition extends beyond providing homes. It is about creating the conditions for stability, belonging and support during childhood and beyond.
Watch VELUX CEO Lars Petersson share his thoughts about Children's Living Places.
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Supporting Family Life
The project combines housing and support services within environments designed to help children grow up as part of a family and a community.
Foster family homes, shared spaces and social support facilities work together to create stable environments where children can build relationships, develop confidence and feel a sense of belonging.
By connecting housing with care, the project explores how the built environment can support children's wellbeing and long-term development.
Watch the video to understand how the Living Places concept is helping SOS Children's Villages Ukraine.
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Designed Around Children
The needs of children and families shape every aspect of the project.
Children's Living Places applies Living Places knowledge through homes and shared facilities designed to support healthy indoor environments, flexibility and everyday community life. Shared spaces provide opportunities for learning, recreation and social support, helping create environments where children and families can thrive together.
The principles have been adapted to local conditions in Ukraine, ensuring that the development responds to the realities faced by foster families, care providers and communities.
Rather than applying a standard solution, the project uses proven ideas as a foundation for creating places that feel safe, familiar and supportive.
Watch the video to hear the thoughts of Market Director from VELUX Ukraine, Yuri Tkachenko, and learn more about the situation in Ukraine and how Living Places can contribute to rebuilding the country.
“We are pleased to announce Lviv as the location for the first Children's Living Places development. Together with our partners and the city, we look forward to creating homes for foster families and children, and supporting the reform of care for children in Ukraine.”
Coming Together
The VELUX Group is supporting the Children’s Living Places project as part of a broad coalition of partners from the building industry. As part of our support, The VELUX Group has entered an agreement with SOS Children’s Villages Denmark that shares the in-depth knowledge gained through the Living Places concept and a license to build the new care environments following the Living Places principles. In addition, VELUX Ukraine has entered an in-kind donation agreement with SOS Ukraine to donate windows to the new buildings.
