Mrs. Hannelore — A Friend of Ukraine and
the Children Supported by the Kids to Kids Charity Foundation
Almost forty years ago, a tragedy led her heart to Ukraine. And it has remained by its side ever since.
Some people come into our lives for a short time, while others stay beside us for years, offering support not only through words but through their actions. Mrs. Hannelore from Germany is one of those people.
Since 2023, she has been supporting the beneficiaries of the Kids to Kids Charity Foundation — children with disabilities, orphans, and graduates of residential care institutions. However, her journey of helping Ukrainians began much earlier, following the tragedy at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant.
Today, we would like to introduce you to this remarkable woman and share her personal story.
When Did My Love for Ukraine Begin?
My love for Ukraine began back in 1986. At that time, I was spending my vacation in a resort paradise in Asia when the accident at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant occurred. We had absolutely no information about what was happening: no newspapers, no connection with home, no mobile phones. There was only uncertainty and anxiety.
Years later, many of the thoughts and feelings I experienced at that time seemed to come alive again in Svetlana Alexievich’s book Voices from Chernobyl. We even had the opportunity to organize a meeting with the author in Munich.
After getting married and starting a family, I devoted much of my time to caring for my parents. Following my mother’s passing in 1989, while helping my father manage the household, I began sending parcels and essential items to families in Ukraine through the organization “Help for Ukraine.”
It was then that I first truly learned about the long-lasting consequences of the Chornobyl disaster for many Ukrainian families. I have kept every letter from the people I was able to help. To this day, they remind me how meaningful even a small act of support can be.
Later, I became a member of the charitable organization “Help for Chornobyl Children.” For many years, we supported Kyiv Hospital No. 14 and later the Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology at Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital. More recently, we also contributed to renovation work there.
I visited Kyiv many times and found wonderful friends there, people with whom I still share warm and lasting friendships.
In Munich, we repeatedly welcomed the remarkable Shchedryk Choir led by Iraida and Marianna Sablina. Together with our small association, we cared for nearly forty children and five adults, organizing excursions, mountain hikes, swimming activities, and concerts that the children generously performed for us in return.
All these years of connection with Ukraine, my visits to Kyiv, and my encounters with children and their families have been filled with warmth, gratitude, friendship, and joy. These experiences became a gift not only for me, but also for my family and for all members of our association.
It was my desire to communicate more easily with the children that led me to begin studying Russian around 1996. Since then, Ukraine has become an inseparable part of our family life.
As a mother of two children, I know how important it is for every child to grow up in safety, love, and peace of mind. I also understand how painful it is for parents when they are unable to provide everything their children need.
For those who live in peace, it is difficult to imagine what it means to face daily challenges caused by illness, poverty, or war.
My help is only a drop in the ocean. A piece of chocolate, a toy, some necessary kitchenware, a few items of clothing, words of encouragement, or a small moment of joy for a child. It is hope and the feeling that everything will be all right again.
I am grateful whenever I have the opportunity to contribute, even in a small way.
And I would like to express my special thanks to Natalia for her extraordinary dedication and for the careful organization of assistance for those who need it most.
“I met Hannelore in 2023. A friend of mine, who had already been supporting our Foundation at that time, told me about her.
From the very beginning of our acquaintance, I have been impressed by her kindness, care, and attentiveness. Hannelore prepares every parcel with special tenderness and love, carefully packing each item.
Over the years, we have repeatedly received assistance from her for our beneficiaries: children’s clothing and footwear, bed linen, household essentials, food products, and sweets. Every parcel became a true gift for families in need of support.
I am sincerely grateful to Hannelore for her big heart, compassion, and constant support for the children of Ukraine. Thanks to people like her, our families feel cared for and supported, and they continue to believe in kindness and humanity.”
Nataliia Kisielova, Director of the Kids to Kids Charity Foundation
Words of gratitude from Kids to Kids Foundation
On behalf of the Kids to Kids Charity Foundation, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Mrs. Hannelore for her many years of support for Ukraine, her compassion for the children we serve, and her kindness that knows no borders.
Her story is a reminder of how one person can make a difference in the lives of others for decades. We are proud to know Mrs. Hannelore and sincerely grateful for every act of care, every open-hearted gesture, and for the fact that she has remained by the side of Ukrainian children for so many years.
Some friends of Ukraine were born here. Others chose Ukraine with their hearts. Mrs. Hannelore is one of them.