Invisible threat - Protecting Ukrainian Children from Mines

1 year of war means 10 years of demining. The war in Ukraine has been going on for over two years now. The mines are therefore likely to pose a threat to the Ukrainian population for at least another 20 years. Children are particularly at risk as they often do not know how to recognize mines and explosive objects. Their natural curiosity and playfulness can lead them to come across unknown and dangerous objects.
There are currently over 330,000 displaced persons from eastern Ukraine living in the Cherkasy region, including 66,000 children. In order to protect them when they return to their heavily mined home areas, there is an urgent need to raise their awareness of the explosive residues. Our project aims to educate them about the dangers of mines and explosive objects. We want to sensitize the population and teach children between the ages of 7 and 16 how to behave safely. Educating children is particularly important as they can apply this information in their everyday lives to minimize the risk of them or their friends getting into life-threatening situations and being injured by landmine debris.
Our partner organization “Modern Village and Town” has been specially trained in dealing with mines and has developed age-appropriate teaching materials. Our project will be carried out at four schools for one month at a time, reaching a total of 400 pupils. With the knowledge they acquire there, the children can also educate their friends and families about the dangers and prevent life-threatening accidents. By teaching children how to deal with these risks safely, we are making an important contribution to protecting the Ukrainian population. Help us to protect children from the dangers of mines!