Interview with Patrick Reason – Reflections on Ukraine Visit (June 2025)

Disclaimer: The views expressed by Patrick Reason in this interview are his own personal reflections and do not necessarily represent the official position of FICE International.

1. Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, millions of children have experienced trauma, and many have lost their homes or families. How has FICE International responded to this situation?

FICE International has, to my understanding, responded with both empathy and action, recognising the immense suffering that Ukrainian children and families have endured. Since the beginning of the conflict, FICE International has maintained contact with its member organisation in Ukraine – the Ukrainian Education Platform (UEP) – offering solidarity, dialogue, and opportunities for collaboration. UEP, under the leadership of Mariana Kashchak and Marianna Bilyk, is widely regarded for its professionalism and integrity. 

UEP was included in the international seminar on trauma-informed care at the FICE International Congress in Split, Croatia, in 2024, with panel discussions organised by the FICE Special Task Force «Hand in Hand» and chaired by Dr. Alex Schneider. This seminar brought together professionals from multiple countries from all continents. In collaboration with the Mulberry Bush Foundation, FICE International launched a three-part training series, with two sessions already completed and a third soon to be delivered. These initiatives align closely with FICE’s mission to strengthen alternative care and child protection systems through capacity-building, horizontal exchange, and shared methodologies.

FICE International is not a funding body, but a network rooted in professional solidarity. Its role is to amplify good practice, create opportunities for joint learning, and promote peer exchange among its members. In my personal view, the Ukrainian context is a reminder that care work is not just technical – it often includes moral, emotional, and political dimensions. For me, it has underscored the importance of maintaining dignity in the face of crisis.

2. Please share your impressions from your visit to Ukraine. What was interesting for you? What were the key discoveries or insights you gained? What motivated your decision to visit Ukraine?

This visit was, without exaggeration, one of the most impactful and emotional experiences of my professional life. Over the course of a single week, I travelled across Ukraine, from Lviv to Mukachevo, Dnipro, Petrykivka, and Kyiv. I witnessed the strength of a nation under immense pressure, but also the warmth, professionalism, and clarity of purpose of the people and organisations working on the ground. 

What struck me most was the contrast between the normalcy of daily life – children playing, cafés open, schools running – and the constant presence of risk, sirens, and trauma. I met educators who taught classes from underground shelters, professionals offering psychosocial support in war-affected zones, and local authorities transforming abandoned buildings into resilience centres. The adaptability and courage of these individuals were extraordinary.

My decision to visit Ukraine was motivated by a personal desire to gain a deeper understanding of the real needs on the ground. The visit was not undertaken as an official mission on behalf of FICE International. 

I also used the opportunity to informally explore the medium- and long-term potential for consolidating a FICE national section or a broader network of institutions across Ukraine. It was equally important for me to reconnect with two key stakeholders of FICE International: the Ukrainian Education Platform (UEP) and RGU, the Ukrainian teachers’ union, both of which have maintained communication with FICE over recent years.

I was deeply impressed by the work being done through resilience centres, deinstitutionalisation initiatives, women and child shelters, and psychosocial programmes. To me, these appear aligned with best practices commonly promoted in Western Europe.

But perhaps the deepest realisation for me personally was that Ukraine is not only on the front line of military aggression – it is also on the front line of an ideological struggle. In my view, this is a struggle between tyranny and freedom; between fear-based manipulation and a society that values human dignity. Ukraine is choosing to defend the individual: to uplift the weak and vulnerable; to assert the right to choose; to affirm the value of every life – including those who are marginalised or in need of care. In contrast to a worldview that reduces people to instruments of state power, I saw Ukraine’s civil society defending something deeply humane: freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and freedom of thought – even the freedom to make mistakes and find redemption. To me, these are the very foundations of democratic life. And seeing these values being protected and practised under bombardment was both humbling and inspiring. 

These were the main takeaways for me: Ukraine is not only resisting – it is building. And the world has much to learn from its courage, creativity, and care for the vulnerable.

My motivation to visit Ukraine was grounded in a personal belief that solidarity must be demonstrated in person, especially during times of suffering. Though a private visit, the decision was also rooted in my role as Secretary General of FICE International in the sense that I am personally committed to staying connected with all members. I wanted to better understand how FICE International’s partners in Ukraine are operating, listen to their needs, and ensure they are supported meaningfully. Additionally FICE International has expressed interest to build a Ukrainian National Network (National Section) in the medium to long term to consolidate the relationships and networks established during this period of conflict and to ensure more continuity long term. 

I am grateful for the invitation to the dynamic tri-annual meeting of RGU in Mukachevo. This group of competent and resilient School Directors gave me an understanding of the challenges faced by maintaining quality education and support to families during the full scale conflict.

3. You took part in the panel discussion «The Impact of Networks on the Development of Ukraine». What is the main message you would like to emphasize and highlight once again? What is important to do – and not to do – within networks?

One of the key messages I shared during the panel is that networks are most effective not when they are hierarchical, but when they are horizontal. The power of a network lies in its ability to facilitate peer exchange, build trust across difference, and remain agile in times of change. 

In the Ukrainian context, one can see how diverse organisations – religious, secular, local, international – are coming together in creative ways. This diversity must be preserved. Networks should not become monopolies. When one institution tries to control or dominate a network, innovation and participation suffer.

I also emphasised the importance of humility in network-building. No single organisation has all the answers. What matters is mutual recognition, shared learning, and respect. Networks must be curated with care: giving space to new voices, supporting leadership transitions, and being willing to have difficult conversations when needed.

A story I shared at the panel in Kyiv illustrates this: In Brazil, we say that if you put theologians in a room to debate doctrine, they may leave divided. But if you put them in a room to discuss hunger, violence against children, and the need for care – they will leave united. The same is true of networks. Focus on doctrine, and you divide. Focus on human need, and you find common ground.

So my message is simple: Let networks be spaces of trust, generosity, and shared purpose – not competition, not branding, not control.

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4. You shared your experience of working in Brazil. Do you believe it’s possible to build bridges of cooperation between women here and in Brazil to better empower women in child-rearing and caregiving?

Building bridges between women in Ukraine and Brazil for mutual empowerment is certainly possible, although it won’t be easy. One challenge is the language barrier – Portuguese and Ukrainian are not widely spoken outside their regions – and there are also some cultural differences to navigate. However, I believe our shared experiences in contexts of risk, instability, and displacement offer a powerful starting point for connection.

In Brazil, we face many similar challenges to those currently affecting Ukraine. We have large numbers of migrants and refugees – mainly from Venezuela and Haiti – and also a massive internal migration from rural areas to urban centers. Similarly, Ukraine is now seeing huge numbers of displaced families, both internally and externally, due to the war. In both countries, these pressures often fall disproportionately on women, especially single mothers, many of whom have lost partners to violence or conflict.

In Brazil, we’ve found that supporting women in their caregiving role – whether they are biological mothers or stand-in caregivers – is essential to protecting children. Separating children from their mothers or maternal figures should always be a last resort. We’ve had to work hard to create structures that strengthen and empower women who are raising children under highly challenging conditions. 

There is a lot I believe we could share from the Brazilian experience – both the difficulties and the creative responses. Brazilians are known for being deeply empathetic. While we in Brazil may not fully understand what it’s like to live through war, we do understand what it means to live with trauma, with poverty, with displacement, and with violence. That shared understanding opens the door for meaningful exchange. 

Perhaps this dialogue could begin on a case-by-case basis, identifying specific areas of interest or common challenge, and then building small but intentional bridges of collaboration between professionals, caregivers, and support systems in both countries. 

5. What steps should Ukrainian organizations take to strengthen their presence in global child rights protection networks?

Ukraine has made enormous strides in deinstitutionalisation even amidst the pressures of war. What is truly unique is how Ukrainian institutions – whether religious, educational, cultural, or social – have all had to transform their mandates to respond to emergency needs while continuing to advance toward best practices in care and child protection.

In this context, I personally believe that Ukrainian organisations should not be passively «invited» into international child rights networks – they should be actively positioned to teach and lead. The experiences they bring – working with displaced children, trauma-affected families, and fragmented communities under extreme conditions – offer an invaluable contribution to the global care community. 

If international networks are wise, in my view, they will not sit back and question whether to include Ukrainian voices. Instead, they should offer platforms for Ukrainian professionals to share how they have adapted, how they’ve broken silos, and how they’ve developed holistic, family-centred models in the midst of crisis. This is not only relevant to Ukraine but also to any context facing conflict, fragility, or forced migration. To draw a parallel: just as military analysts are studying how Ukraine has responded on the battlefield, I believe so too should human rights and child protection networks be studying how Ukraine has adapted its social and care systems. The lessons are urgent, practical, and deeply human. 

6. What would you like to say to Ukrainian professionals, particularly child protection specialists (UEP), who are working every day in extremely difficult conditions?

To all the child protection professionals, psychologists, educators, and social workers across Ukraine: I see you. I honour your work. I am humbled by your courage.

The reality you face every day – air raids, displacement, grief – is more than most people can imagine. And yet, you continue. You continue to care for others while often holding your own pain. You continue to create spaces of safety while surrounded by fear. You continue to imagine futures for children even when your present is uncertain.

I was especially touched by what I saw at the resilience centre in Petrykivka, and in the institutions I visited in Lviv, Dnipro and Kyiv. I saw professionals who were not just fulfilling tasks, but embodying compassion. I saw psychologists holding space for trauma; educators rebuilding community; foster families holding ten children in their care. And I saw smiles, music, painting, laughter, and life.

One image I will never forget is from Dnipro: children playing in water fountains, laughing in the sunlight, while only 100 kilometres away, missiles fall. This is not denial – it is defiance. As Mariana from UEP told me, «You see? Life is stronger».

For me, you are proving that even in war, care is possible. That even under bombardment, systems can reform. That even amidst loss, connection can flourish. Ukraine is teaching the world what it means to come together. Thank you for all you are doing – for your country, and for the world.