Actividades de las organizaciones benéﬁcas que apoyan a la población en territorios desocupados: problemas, métodos y perspectivas Oksana Mikheieva 1 , Olena Martynenko 2 , Renate Vainola 3 , Nataliia Myroshnichenko 4 1 Ph.D., Associate Professor of Social Education and Social Work, Department of Social Education and Social Work, Faculty of Sociology and Social Policy, Dragomanov Ukrainian State University, 9, Pyrogova St., 01601, Kyiv, Ukraine. E-mail: mixeeva2007@ujis.in.ua; ORCID ID: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8358-3840 2 PhD Student, Department of Social Education and Social Work, Faculty of Sociology and Social Policy, Dragomanov Ukrainian State University, 9, Pyrogova St., 01601, Kyiv, Ukraine. E-mail: e.martynenko2@gmail.com. ORCID ID: http://orcid.org/0009-0002-6069-3817 3 Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor, Department of Social Education and Social Work, Faculty of Sociology and Social Policy, Dragomanov Ukrainian State University, 9, Pyrogova St., 01601, Kyiv, Ukraine. E-mail: vainola@ukr.net; ORCID ID: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9754-6178 4 Ph.D., Associate Professor of Social Education and Social Work, Department of Social Education and Social Work, Faculty of Sociology and Social Policy, Dragomanov Ukrainian State University, 9, Pyrogova St., 01601, Kyiv, Ukraine. E-mail: n.o.myroshnichenko@npu.edu.ua; ORCID ID: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5391-0866 Resumen. El objetivo del estudio es identiﬁcar las características especíﬁcas del funcionamiento de las organizaciones benéﬁcas en las regiones desocupadas de Ucra- nia y determinar su papel en la restauración de la estabilidad social entre la población afectada por las consecuencias de las hostilidades. Se enfatiza la transformación de la actividad benéﬁca desde un apoyo humanitario de emergencia hacia un mecanismo sistemático de recuperación social comunitaria. El estudio emplea un enfoque integral que combina el análisis de datos empíricos. Se utilizan métodos de análisis compa- rativo, diagnóstico de problemas y estudio de casos para identiﬁcar prácticas eﬁcaces y factores limitantes. Se establece que las actividades de las instituciones benéﬁcas abarcan apoyo material, asistencia médica y psicológica, iniciativas educativas, apoyo jurídico y programas de reintegración. Al mismo tiempo, su labor se ve obstaculizada por la escasez de recursos, limitaciones de personal, barreras administrativas y riesgos de seguridad. Se identiﬁca una tendencia hacia la digitalización de los procesos de Recibido: 14/12/2025 ~ Aceptado: 12/02/2026 INTERACCIÓN Y PERSPECTIVA Revista de Trabajo Social ISSN 2244-808X ~ Dep. Legal pp 201002Z43506 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19245554 Vol. 16 (2): 603 - 619 pp, 2026

604 Mikheieva, Martynenko, Vainola, Myroshnichenko Interacción y Perspectiva. Revista de Trabajo Social Vol. 16(2): 2026 Activities of charitable organizations supporting the population in de-occupied territories: problems, methods, and prospects Abstract. e aim of the study is to identify the speciﬁc features of the func- tioning of charitable organizations in the de-occupied regions of Ukraine and to de- termine their role in restoring social stability among the population aﬀected by the consequences of hostilities. Emphasis is placed on the transformation of charitable activity from emergency humanitarian support into a systematic mechanism of com- munity social recovery. e study employs a comprehensive approach that combines the analysis of empirical data. Methods of comparative analysis, problem diagnostics, and case analysis are used to identify eﬀective practices and constraining factors. It is established that the activities of charitable institutions encompass material support, medical and psychological assistance, educational initiatives, legal support, and rein- tegration programs. At the same time, their work is complicated by resource shortag- es, staﬃng constraints, administrative barriers, and security risks. A trend toward the digitalization of needs assessment and logistics coordination processes is identiﬁed, which increases the targeting and transparency of programs. Conclusion. It is dem- onstrated that charitable organizations are becoming an important element of social infrastructure in liberated communities, complementing state support mechanisms. Further development of this sector requires the integration of a human-centered ap- proach, the expansion of partnerships, and the strengthening of ﬁnancial sustainabil- ity to ensure long-term territorial recovery. Keywords: social work, charitable foundations, de-occupied territories, aﬀected population, humanitarian aid. INTRODUCTION e deepening of globalization processes covering all spheres of world social and economic life is accompanied by the emergence of qualitatively new challenges that directly aﬀect the state of social security of the population, and this impact is especially noticeable in countries experi- encing military conﬂicts and their consequences, in particular in Ukraine, where the de-occupied territories need comprehensive support (Pankova & Kasperovych, 2022). e destruction of evaluación de necesidades y coordinación logística, lo que incrementa la focalización y la transparencia de los programas. Conclusión. Se demuestra que las organizaciones benéﬁcas se están convirtiendo en un elemento importante de la infraestructura social en las comunidades liberadas, complementando los mecanismos de apoyo estatal. El desarrollo futuro de este sector requiere la integración de un enfoque centrado en la persona, la ampliación de alianzas y el fortalecimiento de la sostenibilidad ﬁnanciera para garantizar la recuperación territorial a largo plazo. Palabras clave: trabajo social, fundaciones benéﬁcas, territorios desocupados, población afectada, ayuda humanitaria.

Actividades de las organizaciones benéﬁcas que apoyan a la población en territorios desocupados: problemas, métodos y perspectivas 605 Vol. 16(2) mayo - agosto 2026/ 603 - 619 critical facilities, loss of housing, limited access to medical care and educational institutions, psy- chological trauma, and disruption of social adaptation of millions of citizens have created special conditions that require not only governmental measures but also the broad participation of char- itable institutions and non-governmental organizations. ese structures have become an eﬀec- tive mechanism for rapid response to the needs of local communities, providing humanitarian, psychological, educational and rehabilitation assistance to victims. In the ﬁeld of socio-economic relations, there are numerous endogenous factors that cause property stratiﬁcation, inequitable distribution of income and beneﬁts, and the formation of new categories of vulnerable groups, including a signiﬁcant proportion of people who have lost housing, jobs, or access to basic social services as a result of the occupation (Adegbite, 2025). In such realities, it is the social work of charitable foundations that becomes the tool that is designed to compensate for the lack of state capacity and provide targeted assistance to people who need it most. e essence of the research problem is to ﬁnd out the speciﬁcs of social activities of chari- table foundations with residents who have suﬀered damage and destruction in the liberated territories, as well as to identify factors that hinder or promote the eﬀectiveness of such work. Despite the large number of institutions providing assistance, their activities are hampered by a lack of ﬁnancial and human resources, security threats, administrative obstacles, and the absence of a centralized coordination system. e above arguments determine the need for a scientiﬁc study of the social work of charitable foundations as a key component of restoring the social resource of the liberated communities and ensuring the sustainable development of Ukrainian society. LITERATURE REVIEW e current scientiﬁc discussion on the social work of charitable foundations is important because they provide ﬂexibility in responding to social challenges and the ability to quickly adapt assistance programs to new circumstances, which is extremely relevant for Ukraine in the context of war and after the de-occupation of the territories. In recent works by Giacaman et al. (2011), Shmorlivska and Strebkova (2023), charity is most often deﬁned as a voluntary and selﬂess activ- ity aimed at improving the material, social or moral condition of its recipient, and they prove that charity performs not only the function of humanitarian aid, but also becomes a component of social solidarity. However, their research does not take into account the speciﬁcs of charitable foundations in the de-occupied territories, where the volume and nature of the population’s needs far exceed the traditional limits of basic charity. e published works of An et al. (2022) and Martynenko (2024) focus on the activities of non-governmental institutions in the ﬁeld of social protection of children and youth, including vulnerable categories, and these authors describe in detail the legal framework for social work and outline mechanisms for interaction with government agencies. However, these studies do not ad- dress the problem of restoring access to social services in communities that have experienced the occupation, where the lack of infrastructure makes traditional models ineﬀective. For example, Dibrova and Liakh (2025) and Lacey and Moran (2024) study the professional training of social workers to partner with non-governmental organizations, showing that human resources are a key factor in the eﬀectiveness of social programs. At the same time, the scientiﬁc literature hardly

606 Mikheieva, Martynenko, Vainola, Myroshnichenko Interacción y Perspectiva. Revista de Trabajo Social Vol. 16(2): 2026 analyzes the shortage of qualiﬁed personnel and volunteers in the dangerous conditions of the liberated territories, which is critically important for Ukraine. e authors would like to highlight the works of Chapman and ai (2025) and Sadrytska and Korop (2020), which focus on the transformation of one-time humanitarian actions into systemic social work with veterans and internally displaced persons, justifying the place of char- ity in the state’s social policy. eir analysis of the foundations’ activities on the example of the Kharkiv region showed the eﬀectiveness of local initiatives, but did not take into account the peculiarities of working in the conditions of destruction and lack of basic services in de-occupied communities and lands. Hladunov and Bohdanets (2023), Spirina et al. (2025) studied the problems of social pro- tection in Ukraine and proposed directions for its reform, but did not pay attention to the activi- ties of charitable foundations that actually replace the state in the liberated territories. Similarly, foreign studies by Erdilmen (2025) showed the inﬂuence of moral principles on the development of charity and outlined the management features of non-governmental organizations, but they mainly consider experience in the ﬁeld of natural disasters or migration crises, which only par- tially correlates with the Ukrainian military reality. Contemporary authors Harghandiwal (2025) and Yerusalimov et al. (2023) reveal charitable activities as a factor of resilience and emphasize the role of government-business-civil society partnerships, but do not suﬃciently analyze the activities of charitable foundations themselves in the speciﬁc conditions of the de-occupied ter- ritories, where the main barriers are security risks, bureaucratic procedures, and the destruction of infrastructure. Of particular interest is the study by Tkach et al. (2023), who analyzed the mechanisms of social partnership in the government-business-civil society system in the context of European integration. e authors substantiated the need to strengthen coordination between government institutions and non-governmental organizations, but their analysis did not take into account the speciﬁcs of work in the context of active hostilities and in the liberated territories, where traditional partnership models need to be radically adapted. A valuable contribution to understanding the issue was made by Napiórkowska et al. (2025), who studied mechanisms for supporting people in diﬃcult life circumstances. eir analysis showed the ineﬀectiveness of existing state social support programs and the need to involve the non-governmental sector. However, the study focused mainly on the national level, without disclosing the speciﬁcs of charitable foundations’ activities in regions with critically damaged infrastructure and increased security risks typical of the de-occupied territories. us, although the outlined scientiﬁc works concentrate a signiﬁcant body of work on the role of charitable foundations in the social protection system, the problem of organizing social work in the liberated territories of Ukraine remains unexplored, which requires comprehensive research and modernization from the perspective of military and post-war challenges. e aim of the article is to identify the speciﬁcs of social work by charitable foundations with the aﬀected population of the de-occupied territories of Ukraine and to formulate direc- tions for the development of social support that will help restore community life.

Actividades de las organizaciones benéﬁcas que apoyan a la población en territorios desocupados: problemas, métodos y perspectivas 607 Vol. 16(2) mayo - agosto 2026/ 603 - 619 MATERIALS AND METHODS e study was conducted using a comprehensive approach that combines qualitative and quantitative methods. To collect primary data, an analytical collection of primary information on the work of ten leading charitable foundations operating in Kharkiv, Kherson and Donetsk regions, as well as with 50 residents of liberated communities who received humanitarian aid, was conducted. e information gathered included an assessment of the needs of the popula- tion, the eﬀectiveness of the foundations’ programs and the main obstacles to their implemen- tation. Secondary data was collected by analyzing reports of charitable organizations, oﬃcial data from the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, as well as materials from international organizations, including the Charities Aid Foundation (World Giving Index). To evaluate the activities of the foundations, a problem analysis was used to identify strengths (ﬂexibility of response, targeting of assistance) and weaknesses (limited resources, bureaucratic barriers). e case study method was used to examine in detail the work of a number of individual foundations, with a focus on their programs to support vulnerable groups. e research was conducted in compliance with ethical standards, ensuring the anonymity of respondents and conﬁdentiality of data. e results were systematized for further comparison with interna- tional experience of social work in the context of military conﬂicts and identiﬁcation of ways to optimize the activities of the foundations. RESULTS Current state and peculiarities of social interaction of charitable foundations with the aﬀected population within the de-occupied territories of Ukraine According to a study conducted by the British organization Charities Aid Foundation, in 2024 Ukraine ranked second in the World Philanthropy Index, which is an unprecedented phe- nomenon in world practice, as in 2012 the state was only at the 150th position, and the level of citizen participation in volunteer activities was about 6% of the total population (Charities Aid Foundation, 2023). Such growth dynamics became possible due to the activation of civil society after the start of the large-scale aggression of the Russian Federation, when volunteering and charity turned from an occasional social practice into a powerful institution of social support covering both the front and the rear, including the de-occupied territories. According to Ukrainian legislation, namely the Law of Ukraine «On Charitable Activities and Charitable Organizations», charitable activities are considered to be voluntary provision of material or non-material assistance without expectation of proﬁt or reward, which is especially important in the case of working with the aﬀected population of the de-occupied territories, as in these conditions charity is the only source of rapid satisfaction of basic life needs for food, medi- cine, hygiene products and temporary housing (Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, 2012). e social work of charitable foundations in these regions is of particular importance, as it is implemented through targeted programs of psychological support, medical care, educational integration of children, reintegration activities for internally displaced persons, and programs for the restora- tion of communities that have experienced occupation (Table 1).

608 Mikheieva, Martynenko, Vainola, Myroshnichenko Interacción y Perspectiva. Revista de Trabajo Social Vol. 16(2): 2026 TABLE 1. Modern forms and tools of social work of charitable foundations with the aﬀected population in the de-occupied territories of Ukraine. Forms and tools Description Provision of material assistance Provides ﬁnancial, food, household and other material support to meet the basic needs of the population for food, clothing, fuel, hygiene products and housing and communal services; in the current situation, it also includes the distribution of energy equipment (generators, heaters, solar panels) and means for autonomous existence in the context of infrastructure destruction Medical care and rehabilitation Covers ﬁrst aid, examinations and treatment, supply of medicines and equipment, access to mobile outpatient clinics, organization of vaccina- tions, reopening of paramedic stations; an important component is medi- cal and physical rehabilitation of victims of injuries and chronic diseases exacerbated by war Psychological support It is implemented through crisis counseling, group and individual sessions, art therapy programs and mobile psychological teams; it is focused on help- ing people who have survived the occupation, lost their relatives, witnessed violence or suﬀered from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder); special at- tention is paid to children and women who belong to the most vulnerable categories Education and awareness programs Aimed at restoring access to education for children and youth, organizing distance and blended learning, providing digital literacy courses, language and vocational training for adults; also includes mine safety awareness cam- paigns and education on human rights and social adaptation after the oc- cupation Temporary accommodation and housing restoration Provides for the organization of temporary accommodation centers, ﬁnan- cial assistance for renting housing, provision of modular houses, support in the restoration of destroyed housing; current programs include cooperation with international partners to build energy-eﬃcient temporary housing Reintegration programs and community recovery Covers professional retraining, employment assistance, small business grants, support for women’s entrepreneurship; includes measures to restore social infrastructure (schools, kindergartens, libraries), development of community centers that ensure communication and unity in communities after de-occupation Legal and social advocacy support Provides free legal consultations, assistance in restoring documents, protec- tion of victims’ rights, assistance in accessing state compensation and social protection programs; also includes advocacy campaigns to draw the atten- tion of international partners to the problems of the de-occupied territories Digital and information services A modern form of social work that includes the use of online platforms to register the needs of the population, provide consultations through hotlines and chatbots, coordinate the logistics of aid delivery using digital maps, and create databases of needs and resources for eﬃcient distribution of aid Source: Stabilization Support Services Charitable Foundation (2022), UNPRPD/Global Disability Fund (2025).

Actividades de las organizaciones benéﬁcas que apoyan a la población en territorios desocupados: problemas, métodos y perspectivas 609 Vol. 16(2) mayo - agosto 2026/ 603 - 619 At the same time, despite the fact that about nine thousand charitable foundations and more than six thousand NGOs have been oﬃcially registered in Ukraine since the beginning of the invasion, their activities in the de-occupied territories are accompanied by numerous barriers: a) diﬃculty in accessing settlements due to military restrictions; b) the need for special permits; c) security risks for employees and volunteers, as well as limited ﬁnancial resources for long-term recovery programs (Ukrinform, 2023). e social work of charitable foundations with the aﬀected population in the de-occupied territories of Ukraine is characterized not only by a high level of social signiﬁcance, but also by the constant face of numerous challenges, among which one of the most acute is the destroyed and damaged infrastructure, which makes it virtually impossible to provide full assistance. Settle- ments liberated from occupation are often left without the basic elements of civilized existence: access to drinking water, electricity, medical services, transportation, or educational services (Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, 2001). is not only worsens the living conditions of the local population, but also creates an extremely diﬃcult environment for charitable foundations, which are forced not only to ensure the delivery of food, medicine and basic necessities, but also to take on the functions of restoring critical infrastructure, which is normally the responsibility of the state (Table 2). TABLE 2. Modern charitable foundations and civic initiatives engaged in social work with the aﬀected population in the de-occupied territories of Ukraine. Charitable foundation or project Description of social activities Charitable Foundation “Let’s Help” In recent years, the foundation has been implementing programs to help lonely elderly people, particularly in the de-occupied territories. anks to cooperation with international partners (Corteva Agriculture and others), it has provided food packages, hygiene products, and medicines to thousands of pensioners in the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine. e Foundation’s assistance reduces the ﬁnancial burden on vulnerable categories of the population and increases their level of social security. Public Association “rough the War” e main activity is to support children and their parents in need of treat- ment and rehabilitation. e foundation ﬁnances the purchase of medicines and equipment for hospitals, conducts trainings for doctors, and implements long-term psychological assistance programs. In the de-occupied territories, the Foundation organizes mobile medical units, ensuring access to basic services in communities where the medical infrastructure has been destroyed by the war. Center for Volunteering and Protection e organization actively works in the de-occupied and frontline areas, coordi- nating the activities of hundreds of volunteers. e Center implements humani- tarian programs (food, clothing, household goods), organizes crisis counseling, and provides psychological support to residents of the liberated settlements. It also implements social adaptation programs for internally displaced persons and orphans, and supports local communities in restoring social infrastructure.

610 Mikheieva, Martynenko, Vainola, Myroshnichenko Interacción y Perspectiva. Revista de Trabajo Social Vol. 16(2): 2026 Charitable foundation or project Description of social activities Victor Leshchynsky Charitable Foundation e Foundation is focused on supporting IDPs, refugees and residents of the liberated territories. e Foundation provides food packages, assists in the res- toration of housing, and organizes mobile teams to deliver humanitarian aid to frontline areas where there are high risks to life. NGO “Ordinary People” Since 2019, the organization has been implementing psychological assistance programs for children and families in diﬃcult life circumstances. Since the be- ginning of the full-scale war, it has been actively supporting the communities of Kharkiv region: providing humanitarian aid, helping to restore infrastructure, opening children’s and youth spaces, rebuilding destroyed housing and public facilities. NGO “All-Ukrainian Youth Movement Let’s do it Ukraine” e youth organization implements large-scale social projects aimed at support- ing vulnerable populations and developing youth initiatives in the liberated ter- ritories. e foundation’s programs include volunteer camps, environmental and educational campaigns, and assistance to schools and children’s institutions. National Scout Organization of Ukraine “Plast” Despite the main focus on patriotic and civic education of youth, the organiza- tion is actively involved in social work in the de-occupied territories. “Plast” organizes children’s camps for children from the frontline and liberated terri- tories, provides humanitarian aid, promotes youth leadership development and integration of children into peaceful life after traumatic events. Caritas Ukraine International Foundation One of the largest charitable foundations in Ukraine that systematically works in the de-occupied territories. e organization provides humanitarian aid, con- ducts psychosocial support programs, provides housing for internally displaced persons, implements long-term projects to restore social infrastructure and sup- port local communities. “Come Back Alive” Foundation Although the main focus of the foundation’s activities is to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the organization also implements social programs for military families and residents of the liberated territories. e foundation ﬁnances reha- bilitation programs for veterans and civilian victims, and organizes assistance to families who have lost breadwinners. Source: Giving Tuesday Ukraine (2025), Stabilization Support Services Charitable Foundation (2022). An equally signiﬁcant problem in the ﬁeld of charitable organizations is the limited ﬁ- nancial resources. Ukraine, which has been in a state of full-scale war since 2022, is forced to allocate signiﬁcant budget expenditures to ensure defense capabilities and support for internally displaced persons, which leaves funding for social programs at the local level insuﬃcient. In such conditions, charitable foundations are virtually the only entities able to respond quickly to the urgent needs of the population of the de-occupied territories, but their capabilities are limited by the lack of funds (Figure 1). TABLE 2. CONTINUATION

Actividades de las organizaciones benéﬁcas que apoyan a la población en territorios desocupados: problemas, métodos y perspectivas 611 Vol. 16(2) mayo - agosto 2026/ 603 - 619 FIGURE 1. Dynamics of charitable foundations’ activity and the volume of ﬁnancial assistance to the population in the de-occupied territories of Ukraine in 2022-2024. Source: National Bank of Ukraine (2024). Donor revenues and international support, which increased signiﬁcantly in the ﬁrst months of the war, are gradually decreasing, and competition between numerous organizations for lim- ited ﬁnancial resources is intensifying (Erdilmen, 2025). ese consequences can create condi- tions where, even with well-designed aid projects, charitable foundations are not always able to implement them in full, and a signiﬁcant portion of the needs of the aﬀected population remain unmet. Another challenge is the lack of human resources, including employees and volunteers will- ing to work in the dangerous conditions of the de-occupied territories. Social work in these regions requires a high level of professional training, psychological stability and risk-taking, as daily activities are associated with potential threats to life and health. Not all specialists are ready to travel to remote settlements where there is a risk of mine danger or repeated shelling. e lack of staﬀ slows down program implementation, reduces the eﬃciency of emergency response, and puts additional strain on the few employees and volunteers who remain active. As a result, this will aﬀect the quality of assistance, as foundations are forced to limit the scope of their programs or postpone their implementation (Napiórkowska et al., 2025). An additional factor that complicates the work of charitable foundations is systemic bu- reaucratic obstacles. In order to oﬃcially provide assistance in the de-occupied territories, or- ganizations often have to go through complex procedures for obtaining permits and licenses, which is accompanied by long application review periods, repeated checks and audits. Often, the requirements of government agencies are contradictory or inconsistent, which leads to delays in the implementation of humanitarian programs and causes a loss of trust on the part of donors. Time spent on administrative issues is particularly critical in situations where the clock is tick- ing, as delays in the delivery of humanitarian supplies can cost lives and health of those aﬀected (Makedon et al., 2025a; Tkach et al., 2023). For employees and volunteers, it also becomes a factor of demotivation, as the need to constantly overcome bureaucratic obstacles creates a sense of futility and emotional exhaustion (Table 3).

612 Mikheieva, Martynenko, Vainola, Myroshnichenko Interacción y Perspectiva. Revista de Trabajo Social Vol. 16(2): 2026 TABLE 3. Problems and obstacles in the social work of charitable foundations with the population in the de-occupied territories of Ukraine. Problem/obstacle Obstacle Description Consequences Possible solutions Limited ﬁnancial resources Charitable foundations face a shortage of funds due to a de- crease in donor income and competition for resources. Sig- niﬁcant budgetary expenditu- res of Ukraine are directed to defense and support of IDPs, which limits funding for social programs Inability to fully im- plement projects, fai- lure to meet the needs of the population, and reduction in the scale of programs Coordination of eﬀorts between orga- nizations, creation of uniﬁed databases of needs, attraction of new donors, optimi- zation of resource use Lack of human resources Lack of employees and volun- teers willing to work in the dangerous conditions of the de-occupied territories due to mine danger, the risk of she- lling and the need for high pro- fessional training Slowdown in program implementation, redu- ced eﬃciency, overload of existing staﬀ, and reduced quality of as- sistance Involvement of addi- tional volunteers, tra- ining and psychologi- cal support programs, creation of safe wor- king conditions Bureaucratic obstacles Complex procedures for obtai- ning permits, lengthy inspec- tions, conﬂicting requirements of government agencies Delays in program im- plementation, loss of donor conﬁdence, de- motivation of emplo- yees, risk to the lives of victims due to delays Simpliﬁcation of ad- ministrative procedu- res, introduction of a “single window”, di- gitalization of bureau- cratic processes Insuﬃcient coordination between organizations Duplication of functions due to the lack of a uniﬁed database on the needs of the population and available resources Ineﬃcient use of re- sources, ignoring some of the needs of the po- pulation, and reduced program eﬀectiveness Uniﬁcation of huma- nitarian programs, creation of uniﬁed databases, coordina- tion of eﬀorts bet- ween foundations and authorities Psychological exhaustion of employees Constant work in stressful and dangerous conditions, struggle with bureaucracy and limited resources lead to emotional burnout Decreased motivation, deterioration in the quality of work, staﬀ outﬂow Organization of psychological support, staﬀ rotation, creation of motivation and re- creation programs Source: developed by the authors. Given this actual state of aﬀairs, the process of ﬁnding ways to overcome these problems and optimize the activities of charitable foundations will become crucial. Prospects for the development and support of charitable foundations in the de-occupied territories of Ukraine e authors propose an approach to the organization of social assistance in the liberated territories that should be based on a human-centered model, and it should take into account not only the national

Actividades de las organizaciones benéﬁcas que apoyan a la población en territorios desocupados: problemas, métodos y perspectivas 613 Vol. 16(2) mayo - agosto 2026/ 603 - 619 needs for recovery, but also the speciﬁc socio-economic circumstances of each individual. Charitable foundations working in frontline and de-occupied communities focus their programs on individual situations: providing emergency humanitarian assistance to lonely pensioners, organizing psychological support for children who have survived the occupation, providing medicines to people with chronic diseases, and helping families who have lost a breadwinner (Makedon et al., 2023). e experience of post-industrial states, where the social policy system is based on the priority of preventive measures and comprehensive social monitoring, may be valuable for Ukraine. At the same time, the practice of charitable foundations around the world convincingly demonstrates that no model of social protection can be eﬀective without a stable economic foundation. For Ukraine, which is forced to spend a signiﬁcant share of its budget on defense, the activities of charitable organizations are becoming an important additional source of funding for social programs, as they attract funds from international donors, private companies, and civil society and direct them to meet the priority needs of people in the frontline and de-occupied areas (Makedon et al., 2025b). For example, programs that combine material assistance tools, educational and awareness- raising activities, psychological support, and professional reintegration of internally displaced persons are already being implemented in the liberated territories (Figure 2). Source: developed by the authors. FIGURE 2

614 Mikheieva, Martynenko, Vainola, Myroshnichenko Interacción y Perspectiva. Revista de Trabajo Social Vol. 16(2): 2026 All measures create multidimensional support models that take into account both short- term challenges (food, shelter, medical care) and long-term tasks (restoration of infrastructure, return to normal life, formation of local communities) (Sørensen, 2024). Social protection of the population in the de-occupied territories of Ukraine, considered in the institutional and legal dimension, should include constitutional guarantees of human rights, but their practical implementation depends on the ability of society, charitable foundations and international partners to provide comprehensive assistance in speciﬁc socio-economic conditions (Table 4) (Adegbite, 2025). TABLE 4. Systematization of components of the development of social work of charitable foundations with the aﬀected population in the de-occupied territories of Ukraine. Objectives of the activity Areas of implementation Characteristic factors of inﬂuence: stimulating and restraining •Increasing the level of social protection of the population in the liberated communities; •preventing marginalization and overcoming poverty among the aﬀected catego- ries; •ensuring conditions for the full restoration of human potential and integration of IDPs; •Implementation of a human- centered approach in the practice of social work of the foundations; •creating opportunities for the realization of labor, educatio- nal and entrepreneurial po- tential of the population; •transformation of charitable programs into a factor of sus- tainable development of de- occupied communities; •social adaptation and restora- tion of basic services for the most vulnerable segments of the population (pensioners, children, people with disabi- lities); •systematic implementation of targeted and transparent assistance based on real needs •Restore the local economy through microgrants and social entrepreneurship support programs; •creation of employment funds and support for retra- ining of the population in cooperation with interna- tional partners; •Diversiﬁcation of sources of funding for social programs from donors, businesses and communities; •introduction of active forms of support: social support, psychological assistance, educational courses; •creation of uniﬁed stan- dards and registers of assis- tance recipients in commu- nities; •strengthening the targeting of assistance through digital accounting and monitoring platforms; •rationalizing the system of humanitarian programs by coordinating the activities of several funds; •human capital development through investments in children’s and youth educa- tional initiatives. •legalizing local businesses and en- couraging their participation in social programs; •Involvement of international do- nors and companies in communi- ty recovery; •payment of «social rent» by bu- siness through partnership in re- construction; •bringing social spending and sup- port in line with European stan- dards; •Increasing the participation of non-governmental organizations in providing assistance; •increasing transparency in the use of charitable funds; •corruption and non-transparency of decisions at the level of govern- ment agencies; •lack of awareness of the popula- tion about the programs of the foundations; •inertia of some citizens in enga- ging in recovery initiatives; •Risks of unpredictable social con- sequences in communities that have experienced the occupation. Source: developed by the authors.

Actividades de las organizaciones benéﬁcas que apoyan a la población en territorios desocupados: problemas, métodos y perspectivas 615 Vol. 16(2) mayo - agosto 2026/ 603 - 619 Social work in the liberated territories is in a state of constant multidirectional change, as it is inﬂuenced by both internal and external factors – from political decisions and the security situation to the activity of international donors and the level of self-organization of local com- munities. ese processes are dynamic, as Ukraine’s transitional economy, which is in the phase of deep structural transformations, is accompanied by simultaneous changes in the ﬁeld of legal relations, which is manifested in the introduction of amendments and additions to the current legislation on social protection, In this context, it is necessary to realize that the social work of charitable foundations is not a static or one-dimensional activity, but rather acquires the features of proceduralism, as it is constantly adapting to new challenges, the demands of time and the needs of the population of the de-occupied regions (Shnaider, 2025). At the same time, in any given period, it is possible to record speciﬁc results of the activities of charitable institutions operating in the ﬁeld of social protection, because even in the most diﬃcult conditions, they demonstrate the ability to provide the population with a minimum level of social stability and support. us, at diﬀerent stages of the war and recovery, authors can see how the priorities of social work have changed: from emergency humanitarian assistance in the ﬁrst months to the implementation of long-term programs for psychological support, housing reconstruction, and community development in the future. In this context, the social protection of the aﬀected population in the de-occupied territo- ries appears not only as a formal guarantee enshrined in national legislation, but as a result of the complex interaction of various state actors, local authorities, charitable foundations, internation- al organizations and public initiatives, which together form a system of response and support. It characterizes the real state of the population at a particular historical moment and allows to assess the eﬀectiveness of social assistance institutions (Zaviršek & Cox, 2024). us, the social activities of charitable organizations among the population aﬀected by the liberated territories of Ukraine, is a complex multi-level system that combines the assimilation of international experi- ence with the development of its own innovative approaches to address speciﬁc problems caused by the hostilities and reconstruction processes. It is through this complex interaction of various factors that an eﬀective mechanism of social protection for residents who survived the occupa- tion is formed and determines the ability of Ukrainian society to ensure stable development even in the most diﬃcult conditions. DISCUSSION Comparison of the obtained scientiﬁc results with existing publications demonstrates their compliance with previous research in the ﬁeld of charitable activities, but at the same time reveals a number of unexplored aspects that require additional scientiﬁc study. In particular, the results conﬁrm the views of Sycheva and Polonets (2020) on the evolution from one-time humanitarian measures to systemic social activities, but our study for the ﬁrst time highlights the peculiarities of the regions liberated from occupation, where the volume of destruction and social challenges require innovative methods of work. Similarities can also be observed with the views of Kharabet et al. (2017), who emphasized the need to modernize the social support system, but our ﬁndings complement this view by analyzing administrative obstacles and the lack of qualiﬁed personnel, which directly aﬀects the performance of charitable foundations in the liberated communities.

616 Mikheieva, Martynenko, Vainola, Myroshnichenko Interacción y Perspectiva. Revista de Trabajo Social Vol. 16(2): 2026 ere is also a correspondence with the work of Nilsson et al. (2020), who emphasized the role of ethical principles in the development of philanthropy, as the results of our analysis show that volunteer activities in dangerous conditions are based on moral motives. At the same time, the data obtained showed that this factor is not enough in the liberated territories, as psychologi- cal overload and serious security threats require additional institutional means of supporting em- ployees and volunteers. e results also correlate with the ﬁndings of Pankova and Kasperovych (2022), who considered volunteerism as a resource for the restoration of the state, but our study shows that in the case of the liberated territories, without proper coordination between orga- nizations and the authorities, there is a duplication of tasks, which reduces the eﬀectiveness of social initiatives. In the global context, the results partially coincide with Erdilmen (2025), who examined the aspects of localization of humanitarian activities, but in the Ukrainian context, the work of foundations is not only focused on providing humanitarian aid, but also performs the functions of restoring infrastructure and creating the foundations for local development. Similar parallels can be drawn with the ﬁndings of Zaviršek and Cox (2024), who studied social work in armed conﬂicts, but in the Ukrainian context, charitable institutions also play a role of compen- sation for state institutions in the ﬁeld of basic social services. e scientiﬁc novelty of the study lies in the identiﬁcation of a human-centered model of social work of charitable organizations that takes into account not only the typical needs of the aﬀected population, but also the speciﬁc features of the liberated territories, characterized by the destruction of infrastructure, a high degree of trauma and a diﬃcult security situation. CONCLUSIONS e analysis of the problems and challenges related to social initiatives of charitable foun- dations in the de-occupied territories of Ukraine shows a signiﬁcant increase in the role of civil society in providing social protection and restoration of the aﬀected communities. It was deter- mined that charitable activities used to be sporadic, but after the outbreak of full-scale war, they turned into a stable support institution that covers a wide range of needs, from humanitarian aid to psychological, educational and legal rehabilitation. Charitable foundations in the liberated territories are not only providers of material as- sistance, but also catalysts for social change. rough a combination of humanitarian and re- integration programs, they contribute to restoring infrastructure, improving legal security, and developing human capital. However, their work is hampered by the destruction of infrastructure, security risks, and bureaucratic barriers. Nevertheless, charitable organizations demonstrate sig- niﬁcantly higher responsiveness than government agencies, which points to the need for deeper coordination between the state, communities, and foundations to improve the eﬀectiveness of social support. It has been proven that the future development of charitable foundations is associated with the transition to a human-centered model of assistance focused on individual needs, from tar- geted support for pensioners to specialized rehabilitation programs for children and women who have experienced war trauma. e introduction of digital technologies is promising: maintaining registers of needs, online consultations, and electronic logistics.

Actividades de las organizaciones benéﬁcas que apoyan a la población en territorios desocupados: problemas, métodos y perspectivas 617 Vol. 16(2) mayo - agosto 2026/ 603 - 619 ese measures will increase the level of transparency, accuracy and trust in the funds, and create the basis for a new system of social work that combines rapid response with long-term recovery. e study showed that the future of social work in the liberated territories will depend on the ability to combine international experience with Ukrainian innovative practices. e integra- tion of global approaches through prevention, psychological support, and human capacity de- velopment with local community mobilization will be the basis for an eﬀective support system. A key factor is ﬁnancial sustainability, which will be ensured by diversifying funding, attracting business, international partners and local resources. In such a transformation, charitable founda- tions go beyond humanitarian aid, becoming an eﬀective tool for rebuilding trust and sustain- able development of communities that have survived the occupation. BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES • Adegbite, A. E. (2025). “Exploring legal frameworks and ethical boundaries: A comparative analysis of social work and philanthropy in supporting vulnerable populations”. International Journal of Social Work, 11(2), 60, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.5296/ijsw.v11i2.22630 • An, J., Briley, D. A., Danziger, S. & Levi, S. (2022). “e impact of social investing on charitable donations”. Management Science, 69(2), 1264–1274. https://doi.org/10.1287/ mnsc.2022.4339 • Chapman, C. M. & ai, H. A. (2025). “Incentivizing charitable giving: A systematic review of self and other-beneﬁting incentives for donating money”. Nonproﬁt and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1177/08997640251348411 • Dibrova, O. V. & Liakh, T. L. (2025). “Preventing professional burnout among social work specialists in de-occupied territorial communities: Results of a focus group study”. Social Ped- agogy: eory and Practice, (2), 55–62. https://doi.org/10.12958/1817-3764-2025-2-55-62 • Erdilmen, M. (2025). “Against the charge of charity: Refugee-led organisations, localisation and decolonising humanitarianism”. ird World Quarterly, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/ 01436597.2025.2540523 • Giacaman, R., van der Meulen Rabaia, Y., Nguyen-Gillham, V., Batniji, R., Punamäki, R.-L. & Summerﬁeld, D. (2011). “Mental health, social distress and political oppression: e case of the occupied Palestinian territory”. Global Public Health, 6(5), 547–559. https://doi.org/1 0.1080/17441692.2010.528443 • Giving Tuesday Ukraine (2025). Research on Ukraine’s charitable sector: Comprehensive report. Kyiv. https://givingtuesday.ua/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/doslidzhennya_sektoru_blago- dijnosti.pdf • Harghandiwal, B. (2025). “Impact of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza on children’s health: Evidence and recommendations for mitigation”. Global Public Health, 20(1), 1–15. https:// doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2025.2495326 • Hladunov, O. V. & Bohdanets, N. M. (2023). Analytical report on the results of a survey of public opinion of Ukrainian citizens who were on the temporarily occupied territory. Kyiv: Vistka. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/378518791

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