10 Years of ‘The Road to Life’ Project
Sometimes, adult life begins with a very quiet, almost unnoticeable question from a teenager: “Is there anyone by my side to support me?..”
For most of us, stepping into independence was once a natural stage of life, with a reliable parental shoulder always standing firmly behind us. But for graduates of orphanages and residential care institutions, this transition often feels like stepping into open space—beautiful, yet terrifying in its total uncertainty and loneliness. Ten years ago, the KIDS TO KIDS FUND Charitable Foundation launched ‘The Road to Life’ project to become that steady shoulder and a safe haven.
This year, we are celebrating our first major milestone—10 years of our shared journey of faith, hope, and unconditional compassion.
Why do teenagers need us most?
Over the decade of this initiative’s existence, we have come to understand a vital truth: it is easy to help young children, as they open up to the world without fear. However, the older ones—the young men and women standing on the threshold of graduation—are much more guarded. They have already grown used to relying solely on their own strength, hiding their fears behind adolescent restraint.
This year, 15 graduates are stepping into adulthood from our partner educational institutions. And each and every one of them is important.
Supporting youth at this specific moment is an investment in whether a person will believe in humanity at all. If, at their most vulnerable moment, a teenager feels needed, their heart will not harden.
Heart-to-heart compassion: more than daily essentials
‘The Road to Life’ has never been a project only about material aid. Our philosophy centers on compassion that flows from the heart and is delivered personally.
The project’s mechanics allow anyone with an open heart to become a guardian angel for a specific child. Benefactors chose individual letters written by the graduates and packed their very first adult suitcase or backpack. Household essentials—high-quality bedding, pillows, warm blankets, irons, or hairdryers—help build a basic, much-needed sense of comfort and home in a new place.
One of the highlights of this year was that some new friends joined the project. The management of the Korean cosmetics company “Lovely Bunny” wholeheartedly supported our graduates by putting together personalised skincare sets for each of them. This added a special touch of care to the gifts.
Yet, the most precious treasure was hidden at the very bottom of each backpack—a handwritten letter. Simple, human words of encouragement, life advice, and warmth captured in ink on paper. Material things wear out over time, but this letter, written from the bottom of the heart by a completely stranger, often stays with a graduate for a lifetime as a constant reminder: “You are valuable. People believe in you”.
The anniversary finale: no graduate left alone
The tenth, anniversary season of the project became a testament to incredible unity. We achieved our ultimate goal: all 15 graduates this year received their personalized gifts and messages of support.
To deliver this warmth in person, the foundation’s director Nataliia Kiselyova, along with our volunteers, hit the road.
“We managed to personally visit two institutions: the Berdychiv Education and Rehabilitation Center of the Zhytomyr Regional Council and the Education and Rehabilitation Center No. 21 of the Obolon District of Kyiv .
These visits turned into true celebrations of pure emotion. We arrived not as official representatives, but as a large, loving family.” Nataliia Kiselyova
Our youth from the Udaytsi Education and Rehabilitation Center of the Chernihiv Region were not left without care either. Due to logistics, their long-awaited gifts and care packages from “Lovely Bunny” were warmly and solemnly presented by the institution’s leadership right at the graduation ceremony.
Words of Gratitude
Ten years ago, we began with a quiet dream of helping just a few teenagers. Today, ‘The Road to Life’ represents hundreds of warmed young hearts and a vast family of benefactors.
We express our warmest gratitude to everyone who walks this wonderful path of kindness alongside our foundation. Thank you to the donors who packed the suitcases, to the “Lovely Bunny” Korean cosmetics company for their beautiful contribution and care, to the volunteers who spared no time or effort for the trips, and to the management of the institutions for their daily dedication.
We would like to extend our personal thanks to the NCube team, who have supported five graduates through ‘The Road to Life’ project. They have been with us wholeheartedly for several years now, and not just in this project. Such dedication and consistency are inspiring and give us the feeling on a strong shoulder to lean on.
Thanks to all of you, our benefactors, 15 young men and women have entered the adult world armed with the most important knowledge of all, which will protect them from life’s storms:
“I am not alone. I have support” 🤍
@solovushkata_ta
With respect and sincere gratitude,
Olena Momot
Co-founder of the Charitable Organisation ‘KIDS TO KIDS’