Stories That Inspire: The Children of Heroes Charity Fund Unveiled a Touching New Video

23/ 12/ 2024

In its three years of operation, the Children of Heroes CF has supported over 11,000 children, each with a unique and heart-wrenching story. The world must hear their voices, filled with hope and courage. To share these stories, the Fund, in collaboration with the Palay video production team, has created a special video. The video begins with an emotional scene: a young girl preparing for her stage performance while recalling how her father encouraged her to dance. His voice echoes in her memory, offering support: “My sunshine, you can do it. I believe in you!” The video then transitions to the stories of children who continue to pursue their dreams and achieve their goals while keeping the memory of their supportive parents alive in their hearts. “This video is a reminder that behind every statistic lies real children’s stories — stories filled with pain, hope, and courage. In these challenging times, support is vital as it helps these children find the strength to heal, move forward, and achieve their dreams. That is why we are deeply grateful to our partners for enabling us to transform the lives of our Heroes’ children for the better,” emphasized Valeria Abdal, co-founder of the Children of Heroes Charity Fund. At the heart of the video are the stories of two extraordinary girls, Kateryna and Amaliya, whose lives were forever changed by the full-scale war. Kateryna, a 14-year-old from Melitopol, has loved dancing since she was five. However, on February 24, 2022, the war forced her family to leave their hometown and her father joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces to defend his homeland. In December 2022, Kateryna received devastating news: her father had died protecting Ukraine. Despite her loss, Kateryna resumed her dance training. In August 2023, her team made it to the top five at the World of Dance Championship in Los Angeles, proudly raising the Ukrainian flag. While in the U.S., her team also raised 180,000 UAH, which was donated to her father’s battalion, where her uncle now serves. Kateryna continues to grow, participate in charity events to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and dream of a peaceful life, carrying the memory of her father, who taught her never to give up and always strive for her goals. The video also features Amaliya from Brovary, who is passionate about equestrian sports. Her father joined the territorial defense on the first day of the full-scale invasion but was killed two days later. Amaliya’s home was also damaged by fire, but her family eventually restored and returned it. Despite these losses, Amaliya has not stopped dreaming or pursuing her passions. Through the “Make a Wish” project organized by the Fund in partnership with 1+1 channel, she had the chance to meet her favorite singer, DOROFEEVA. For Amaliya, equestrian sports have become a symbol of resilience and strength. She believes every training session helps her grow not only as an athlete but also as a person who honors her father’s memory — her eternal example of courage and sacrifice. This video has become a symbol of the resilience of Ukrainian children, who, despite their losses, continue to move forward. We want the world to feel their determination and see their indomitable spirit. These children represent a new generation of Ukrainians who, against all odds, carry hope for a brighter future and the readiness to fight for it.

The video begins with an emotional scene: a young girl preparing for her stage performance while recalling how her father encouraged her to dance. His voice echoes in her memory, offering support: “My sunshine, you can do it. I believe in you!” The video then transitions to the stories of children who continue to pursue their dreams and achieve their goals while keeping the memory of their supportive parents alive in their hearts.

“This video is a reminder that behind every statistic lies real children’s stories — stories filled with pain, hope, and courage. In these challenging times, support is vital as it helps these children find the strength to heal, move forward, and achieve their dreams. That is why we are deeply grateful to our partners for enabling us to transform the lives of our Heroes’ children for the better,” emphasized Valeria Abdal, co-founder of the Children of Heroes Charity Fund.

At the heart of the video are the stories of two extraordinary girls, Kateryna and Amaliya, whose lives were forever changed by the full-scale war. Kateryna, a 14-year-old from Melitopol, has loved dancing since she was five. However, on February 24, 2022, the war forced her family to leave their hometown and her father joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces to defend his homeland. In December 2022, Kateryna received devastating news: her father had died protecting Ukraine. Despite her loss, Kateryna resumed her dance training. In August 2023, her team made it to the top five at the World of Dance Championship in Los Angeles, proudly raising the Ukrainian flag. While in the U.S., her team also raised 180,000 UAH, which was donated to her father’s battalion, where her uncle now serves. Kateryna continues to grow, participate in charity events to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and dream of a peaceful life, carrying the memory of her father, who taught her never to give up and always strive for her goals.

The video also features Amaliya from Brovary, who is passionate about equestrian sports. Her father joined the territorial defense on the first day of the full-scale invasion but was killed two days later. Amaliya’s home was also damaged by fire, but her family eventually restored and returned it. Despite these losses, Amaliya has not stopped dreaming or pursuing her passions. Through the “Make a Wish” project organized by the Fund in partnership with 1+1 channel, she had the chance to meet her favorite singer, DOROFEEVA. For Amaliya, equestrian sports have become a symbol of resilience and strength. She believes every training session helps her grow not only as an athlete but also as a person who honors her father’s memory — her eternal example of courage and sacrifice.

This video has become a symbol of the resilience of Ukrainian children, who, despite their losses, continue to move forward. We want the world to feel their determination and see their indomitable spirit. These children represent a new generation of Ukrainians who, against all odds, carry hope for a brighter future and the readiness to fight for it.