A number of social facilities in the Donetsk People’s Republic receive assistance with Maria Lvova-Belova’s mediation under the Happy Childhood project. Thus, the Shakhtyorsk Children’s Home was given material assistance to update the facility. The Commissioner for Children’s Rights visited this home with a team of highly qualified pediatricians, including a rehabilitation therapist, neurologist, specialists on orphan diseases and in palliative aid.
In addition, a single mother of eight children received a certificate for a two-storey house under the Happy Childhood project.
Together with Acting Head of the DPR Denis Pushilin and People’s Artist of Russia Grigory Leps, Maria Lvova-Belova visited children and fighters at the Donetsk Republican Trauma Centre. The commissioner gave the children board games, and she gave a certificate for the purchase of new equipment to the centre’s managers. Ms Lvova-Belova also visited children in the Republican Specialised Children’s Home.
At a meeting with the heads of the DPR’s regional departments, the commissioner discussed the implementation of the republic’s project Shaping the Future: Donbass Children – in a Family. This programme provides living arrangements for all categories of orphans and children left without parental care.
They also discussed connecting the republic to the Federal Data Base on Orphans and Children Left without Parental Care and the possibility of creating small, standard social facilities for children under 18.
In the Lugansk Centre for the Development of Children’s and Youth Movement, Maria Lvova-Belova met with 60 teenagers from the DPR and the LPR, who take part in the Day After Tomorrow shifts. A one-day cycle of events was organised for young people from the zone of hostilities. The programme included socio-psychological support for children, professional guidance and familiarisation with the education system, and the history and culture of Russia.
In addition, the commissioner met with the heads of the LPR’s regional departments. They discussed, in part, the provision of housing for those leaving children’s homes.