Rest is not only about holidays, but also an important component of a child’s recovery, emotional support, and safety. In Ukraine, there is a system of free-of-charge and preferential vouchers that helps children from vulnerable categories spend time in a safe environment, regain their strength, and communicate with peers. Such vouchers are provided for the International Children’s Center “Artek” and the Ukrainian Children’s Center “Moloda Hvardiia”.

State support is primarily intended for children who need additional social protection. The amount to be paid depends on the child’s category and may amount to 0%, 20%, 30%, or 50% of the cost of the voucher.

Which categories of children may receive free-of-charge vouchers?

1. orphans;
2. children deprived of parental care;
3. children with disabilities who are capable of self-care (provided there are no medical contraindications);
4. children whose one parent has been assigned Disability Group I or II;
5. children whose one parent was killed (went missing) in the area of the anti-terrorist operation, during measures to ensure national security and defence, repulse and deter the armed aggression of the Russian Federation in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, during hostilities or armed conflicts, or died as a result of wounds, contusion, or injury received in the area of the anti-terrorist operation, during measures to ensure national security and defence, repulse and deter the armed aggression of the Russian Federation in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, during hostilities or armed conflicts, as well as as a result of a disease received during participation in the anti-terrorist operation or during measures to ensure national security and defence, repulse and deter the armed aggression of the Russian Federation in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts;
6. children whose one parent was killed during mass civil protest actions or died as a result of wounds, contusion, or injury received during mass civil protest actions;
7. children living in localities located on the line of contact;
8. biological children of foster parents or adoptive parents living in the same family-type children’s home or in the same foster family;
9. children registered by children’s services as being in difficult life circumstances;
10. children affected by natural disasters, man-made accidents, or catastrophes;
11. children affected by the Chornobyl disaster;
12. children whose parents died as a result of workplace accidents or while performing official duties, including children of journalists who died while performing official duties;
13. children from low-income families who, in accordance with the law, receive state social assistance for low-income families;
14. children from large families.

What documents are required?

To receive a voucher, one of the parents must submit an application at the place of residence — to the social protection department or the department of social policy. In some communities, this may also be done through an Administrative Services Centre or by sending the documents by registered mail. It is important to check in advance whether all documents have been collected, as refusals most often occur precisely because of an incomplete set of documents.

The following are usually attached to the application:

1. a copy of the child’s birth certificate or passport;
2. a copy of one parent’s passport;
3. a certificate of registered place of residence;
4. documents confirming preferential status;
5. a medical certificate in the prescribed form before departure to the camp.

For certain categories, the following may additionally be required:

1. a copy of the document confirming that the child belongs to the relevant preferential category (for example, a medical advisory commission certificate confirming the status of a child with a disability);
2. for children whose one parent was killed during mass civil protest actions or died as a result of wounds, contusion, or injury received during mass civil protest actions — a copy of the birth certificate of the child whose father/mother is included in the list of persons whose death is connected with participation in the mass civil protest actions that took place during the period from 21 November 2013 to 21 February 2014;
3. for children from low-income families who, in accordance with the law, receive state social assistance for low-income families — a copy of the certificate on the assignment of state social assistance for low-income families;
4. for children from large families — a copy of the child’s certificate from a large family or a certificate of family composition;
5. for biological children of foster parents or adoptive parents living in the same family-type children’s home or in the same foster family — a certificate of family composition and a copy of the administrative act on the establishment of the family-type children’s home or foster family.

Where to submit the documents

To the community department/office of social policy at the place of residence.

The documents may be sent by registered mail. Before sending, it is worth carefully checking whether all the required documents have been attached to the application, as refusals most often occur precisely because of an incomplete set of documents. After the documents are submitted, the child is placed in the queue for health improvement and recreation. Notification that a voucher has been granted usually arrives a few weeks before the start of the session, although the timeframes may vary depending on the number of places and the queue in a particular community.

Why may a voucher be refused?

A refusal may be issued for one of the following reasons:

1. the child’s age does not meet the requirements (under 7 or over 18 years old at the time of arrival);
2. the child does not have the status giving the right to preferential health improvement and recreation;
3. an incomplete set of documents has been provided or inaccurate information has been found in them;
4. it has been established that the child has already received health improvement and recreation during the current year at the expense of the state or local budgets;
5. there are medical contraindications for staying in a children’s health improvement institution.

Can the voucher be rescheduled if the child falls ill?

If a child falls ill shortly before departure, the voucher can sometimes be moved to another session. For this, it is necessary to inform the social protection authority as soon as possible, provide a medical certificate, and submit an application.

At the same time, it is worth knowing that the law does not guarantee automatic rescheduling. In practice, social protection authorities often accommodate families if there is confirmation of the illness and available places in the following sessions.