Think Creative Spring 2024

Dispatches

updates from around our world

Left : Save Ukraine provides services to displaced families, including shelter and counseling.

to Ukraine. These missions, not covered in the agreement signed with Creative, were showcased in a November segment on “60 Minutes” called “Disappeared.” Officially, Russian troops have forcibly displaced more than 19,000 Ukrainian children, but “60 Minutes” reports that the actual number could be as high as 300,000. At a learning exchange event with Creative staff members, several of the repatriated youth shared their stories of being taken away from their parents to “camps,” where they were forced to live in inhumane circumstances and recite the Russian national anthem. These children were all returned to their families or taken to healing centers managed by Save Ukraine. According to testimonies from returned children, there is a consistent pattern of deliberate and systematic destruction of Ukrainian identity through indoctrination and forced Russification. Furthermore, teenagers are recruited into Russian youth military movements. Save Ukraine has evidence that thousands of these young individuals are actively fighting against Ukraine. Creative looks forward to continuing to collaborate with Save Ukraine in development, education and peacebuilding opportunities. n

Ukraine // Save Ukraine partnership Collaboration for Change

Save Ukraine and Creative signed an agreement to collaborate on development opportunities in Ukraine, emphasizing their mutual expertise in education, assisting displaced persons, promoting economic recovery, empowering youth and fostering peacebuilding efforts. Save Ukraine, established in 2014, is the country’s largest family-focused humanitarian aid organization, dedicated to safeguarding children and families affected by the consequences of war. Its initiatives primarily target vulnerable populations, including orphans, the elderly, children with disabilities, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and victims of violence. Save Ukraine has also evacuated more than 108,000 people from combat zones near the front lines. Aligned with this partnership, Save Ukraine’s Founder and President Mykola Kuleba brought his team to Washington, D.C., to meet with high-level officials and supporters about

the war and its effect on children and youth. He was accompanied by five teenagers rescued by Save Ukraine after being kidnapped by Russian soldiers and taken to Russian controlled territories. Save Ukraine has gained recognition for its courageous rescue missions aimed at repatriating forcibly deported children back

Save Ukraine’s nearly a decade of on-the-ground efforts, combined with our 47 years of experience, are a good match for donors and the residents of Ukraine.” - Leland Kruvant, Creative President & CEO “

Photo courtesy of Save Ukraine

8 | Think Creative | Spring 2024