Today we’d like to introduce you to Iryna A Lujan.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started with translating the meeting of American philanthropist and filmmaker Clara Pascal with Odesa City administration in 1998. I am executive director of the Universal Aid for Children, Inc., humanitarian organization founded by Clara Pascal and providing direct aid to orphans, special needs children and internally displaced families with children in Odesa city of Ukraine.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It was not a smooth road. Difficult economic situation in Ukraine, and now war of aggression makes it very difficult.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am the Executive Director of Universal Aid for Children (UAC), a humanitarian organization that has spent more than 30 years supporting vulnerable children and families in Ukraine. My work sits at the intersection of humanitarian aid, education, trauma-informed care, and international collaboration.
What I do every day is simple and profound: I connect people who want to help with children who desperately need that help — and I make sure that support is delivered with dignity, transparency, and love.
What I specialize in
I specialize in:
• Building cross cultural partnerships between NGOs, Rotary Clubs, embassies, and international donors
• Designing programs that provide education, psychological support, mentorship, and humanitarian assistance to children affected by war
• Communicating complex human stories with clarity, compassion, and respect
• Mobilizing communities to take action for children who have lost stability, safety, or family support
My background in multilingual communication and legal translation also allows me to bridge gaps between cultures, institutions, and individuals — something that has become essential in wartime humanitarian work.
What I’m known for
People often describe me as:
• A connector who brings the right people together
• A storyteller who can translate human suffering into human understanding
• A bridge-builder between Ukraine and the international community
• A relentless advocate for children with disabilities, special needs, and trauma
• A leader who works with both heart and precision
I am also known for my ability to navigate extremely complex situations — from emergency evacuations to legal documentation to psychological support — while keeping the focus on the child’s dignity.
What I’m most proud of
I am most proud of:
• Keeping UAC’s programs alive during the full-scale war, despite missile strikes, blackouts, and constant danger
• Supporting hundreds of children with disabilities and special needs, ensuring they receive therapy, medication, and individualized care
• Providing education and mentorship to teens who have lost parents, homes, or stability
• Building a network of coordinators on the ground who risk their lives daily to deliver food, medicine, and emotional support
• Creating long-term sponsorship pathways that allow donors to directly transform a child’s life
Every time a child graduates, smiles again, or feels safe for the first time in months — that is my greatest pride.
What sets me apart
What sets me apart is the combination of:
• Humanitarian leadership
• Cross-cultural fluency
• Emotional intelligence
• Strategic thinking
• A deep personal commitment to every child we serve
I don’t see this work as a job. I see it as a calling. I know every child’s name, every coordinator’s struggle, every donor’s hope. I carry their stories with me, and I fight for them with everything I have.
My work is not about charity — it is about restoring dignity, opportunity, and hope to children who deserve a future.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Where I see UAC in this future
In five years, I see UAC:
supporting children in a peaceful Ukraine
helping families rebuild their lives
providing education and mentorship
helping young people launch businesses
strengthening international connections
continuing to stand with the most vulnerable
Our mission will evolve from protecting children in war to empowering them in peace.
That is the future I work toward every day.
Pricing:
- $25.00 • This is not just a basket of groceries. It is a mother exhaling in relief. It is a child going to bed with a full stomach. It is dignity, warmth, and one less fear in a family’s day.
- $57.00 • A Scholarship for a Student — $57 per month This gives a young person the chance to keep studying despite war, loss, or displacement. It means textbooks, transportation, school supplies — but also hope, structure, and a future that feels possible again.
- $40.00 • Trauma Counseling for a Child — $40 per session Many children carry invisible wounds. A single session can help them sleep again, speak again, trust again. Healing is slow, but every hour matters.
- Any amount • Emergency Help for Families — any amount Medication, heating, hygiene supplies, urgent repairs — these are the quiet crises families face every day. Even a small contribution can be the difference between despair and stability.
- Flexible support • Support for Youth Entrepreneurship — flexible support When teens and young adults start small businesses, they rebuild not only their own lives but their communities. A little seed funding can turn into independence, pride, and a future that belongs to them.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.uacukraine.org and www.uacua.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ukraineuac
