Dobrodiy Club’s birthday: 9 facts about the foundation worth remembering

Over the past nine years, Dobrodiy Club has evolved from a small volunteer initiative into a nationwide foundation that designs and implements social solutions changing the lives of hundreds of thousands of teenagers across Ukraine.

Today, we don’t just help — we create the future. A future where every Ukrainian teenager has access to support, resources, and opportunities for personal growth in a safe, empowering environment.

It all began with the personal initiative of Maria Todorchuk, who volunteered at the National Cancer Institute and later mentored children in orphanages. Each year, more and more people joined her in helping children without parental care or those in crisis.

In 2016, this initiative officially became the Dobrodiy Club Foundation — an organization that has long surpassed the boundaries of traditional charity and is now a leader in shaping strategies for social impact.

To mark our 9th anniversary, here are 9 key facts that have become an integral part of our journey:

1. Over 300,000 Lives Changed: Support That Opens New Opportunities

Since the start of the full-scale invasion, more than 300,000 children and teenagers have received support from Dobrodiy Club — from urgent aid for families in crisis to long-term programs in mental health, personal development, and resilience.

2. 200 Million UAH Invested in the Lives of Teenagers

Since its founding, Dobrodiy Club has raised over 200 million hryvnias in charitable contributions — every single one turned into tangible life-changing opportunities for youth across Ukraine.

3. 150+ Transformative Projects

Over the years, the foundation has implemented more than 150 projects — from emergency aid to long-term programs supporting teenagers’ mental health, career development, gender equality, and mentoring for children with experience of orphanhood.

4. A Unique Space for Teen Support — “Place of Power”

In 2023, Dobrodiy Club opened Place of Power, a three-story space in Kyiv dedicated to psychological and emotional recovery for teenagers. Since its opening, it has welcomed over 20,000 visitors.

Built in just over six months, the space was designed by Yova Yager and numo buro, who made it truly one of a kind. The most popular room among teens? “Adults Not Allowed” — a space that wasn’t even in the original plan but became the heart of the project.

5. Dobrodiy Club Featured on BBC

A feature about Dobrodiy Club aired on BBC UK prime-time television, reaching over 4 million viewers. Host and actor David Tennant encouraged Britons to support the foundation. Despite air raid sirens that day, the team managed to capture the powerful stories of volunteers — including 71-year-old Viktor and his wife Maryna from Mariupol, and 9-year-old Rodion and his mother Yana, who volunteered for over a year at the foundation’s hub.

6. On the Largest Screen in Europe — Twice

Twice, Dobrodiy Club’s social campaigns were displayed on the giant Gulliver Mall screen — the largest in Europe.

• On June 1, 2024, the video “Childhood During War” aired with the message: “Children’s Day is not a holiday — it’s a responsibility.”
• The campaign “I’m Here. I Care.” highlighted the importance of empathy and the prevention of gender-based violence among teenagers.

7. Nationwide Research as a Foundation for Social Change

Dobrodiy Club conducts national-scale research to strengthen expertise and provide data that fuels systemic change.

In the last three years alone, the foundation has led two major studies:

• “Teenagers and Their Lives During War” — featured in top Ukrainian media and presented in Parliament.
• “Mentorship in Ukraine: Biases, Challenges, Needs” — the first comprehensive study on mentoring for children with experience of orphanhood.

8. The Responsible Initiative — A New National Tradition

Dobrodiy Club launched the Responsible Initiative, a yearly campaign for Children’s Day, where Ukrainian and international companies replace their logos with children’s drawings to remind everyone of the importance of supporting teenagers.

In 2024, the initiative was joined by hundreds of businesses and even government institutions — including the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. This year, military units also participated, giving the tradition even deeper meaning.

9. The Medal “For Labor and Valor” — Recognition of Leadership and Dedication

On December 5, 2019, Maria Todorchuk, founder of Dobrodiy Club, received the state medal “For Labor and Valor” for her active charitable work, significant contribution to the development of volunteering, and dedication to helping people in difficult times.

This award symbolizes how one person’s initiative can grow into a force that transforms communities — and a whole country.

Looking Ahead — Even More Lives to Change

Nine years of impact is both a milestone and a promise. Dobrodiy Club remains committed to its mission — creating tools that help teenagers become emotionally resilient and self-aware individuals, ready to build their future and Ukraine’s.

All of this has been made possible thanks to people who believe in our work — those who donate, volunteer, share, and support. Together, we prove that collective action can create real miracles.

And the story doesn’t end here — ahead lies even more: new projects, bold ideas, and teenagers waiting for support.

💛 Together, we can achieve even more.