Children of Heroes is committed to helping children who have experienced the unimaginable: the loss of one or both parents due to the war in Ukraine. The organization provides emergency aid, medical and psychological support, and helps children regain
access to education. In 2023, Children of Heroes incorporated in the Netherlands, but launching a foundation in a new country proved to be a complicated task. One of the Ukrainian lawyers working for the organization reflects: “Our organization has legal entities in Ukraine, the United States, and the Netherlands. We wanted to start a foundation in the Netherlands so we could raise funds in the EU. However, this brought a large amount of legal challenges, from anti-money laundering regulations to data protection and labor law.”
As a lawyer, she already knew the value of pro bono work, which led her to contact Pro Bono Connect: “I received a response almost immediately, and we were quickly connected to a partner firm. The collaboration was fantastic. The lawyers took real time for us, worked through matters thoroughly and answered our complex questions clearly.” For Children of Heroes, the pro bono legal advice proved essential. “Our goal is to dedicate as much of our resources as possible directly to the children. Without the help offered by Pro Bono Connect, we would have had to pay for expensive legal assistance, money we then couldn’t have used for our core mission. Thanks to Pro Bono Connect, we received the legal clarity we needed and could keep our focus on what truly matters: the children.”
The lawyer emphasizes how crucial pro bono support is for non-profit organizations: “Pro bono legal assistance isn’t just helpful, it’s essential. Especially now, when civil society organizations face increasing pressure, it provides the space and certainty needed to keep moving forward.”