Today we remember Hennadiy, a beloved colleague of Care in Action, who died in the conflict in Ukraine on the 16th May.

Why I'm sharing this:

I met Hennadiy in 2018 in Lviv, Ukraine, whilst engaged in a pro bono project for Care in Action with Chaucer, the management consultancy I worked for. Hennadiy was an inspiration. He actively pushed the conversation to explore what other charities were doing, how to benchmark performance and understand what good looked like, and actively exploring how to learn and grow from the lessons of other organisations. He brought in empathy from his own story of growing up in care, matched with a professionalism and humour that helped him connect with everyone around him. I've lived in Ukraine and have been involved with supporting Care in Action in many ways since I was young, and I'm in awe of the team who continue the work that has only become more critical now since the war to better the lives of children without families to care for them.

After hearing the terrible news of Hennadiy's death on the frontline, I wanted to share his story below written by his Care in Action colleagues, and invite others to carry on his mission for orphaned children by donating £10 in his memory. If you would like to help his widow and son directly, please mention it in the note or contact info@care-in-action.org

Silvia Lehnis

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https://care-in-action.org/en/news/hennadiy-melnychuk-in-memory-of-our-dear-colleague

We remember a man who was once an orphaned child, who became a father, and was a source of inspiration and strength at Care in Action - a charity working to improve the lives of orphans and underpriviledged children in Ukraine and Malawi since 1995. As a defender of his country Hennadiy still campaigned for children, addressing Ukraine’s parliament by video from the trenches to say:

Hennadiy’s childhood experiences shaped his sense of purpose. Entering care at just four years old, he grew up in orphanages — at times among 500 other children. When Janice, Co-founder of Care in Action, met him at age 11, he loved to take part in our activities and would later become a volunteer. Sofia, one of the volunteers who brought cheer to Henna in the orphanage, became his mentor and life-long friend. At 17, Hennadiy found a home with a foster family — a formative experience that remained close to his heart.

As a teenager Hennadiy spoke to Lviv leaders about the need for every child to have a family. In our STEP program event, he used a model to illustrate how children in orphanges feel isolated, like a wall separates them from society.

In 2018, Hennadiy joined our team full-time. From the outset, he brought optimism, insight, and unwavering commitment to helping children in care.

Hennadiy’s courage in sharing his story made him a national voice for reform. Unafraid of the stigma tied to his childhood in care, he spoke on the radio, at national forums and conferences, explaining the problems of the orphanage system. His advocacy earned him a place in the Office of Children and Youth "DijMO" under Ukraine’s Ministry of Social Policy. His message was clear and strong: every child should have a family.

Care in Action became like a family to Hennadiy. His friendship and good times shared with volunteers enriched his life and ours. Founders Werner and Janice brought him to Germany as part of experience exchanges, including time in the Marktredwitz community. Werner was proud that Hennadiy could grow from care into our team, believing it showed the value of our mission. Hennadiy was welcomed into many homes and hearts.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hennadiy helped deliver humanitarian aid to children from orphanages in the most remote villages. When full-scale war broke out, he worked tirelessly to assist displaced families, escorting them to the border and helping them settle into our shelters. He reached out to La Matrioska in Italy — where he had been hosted for a childhood holiday — and organized a truckload of furniture and supplies for our shelter in Vynnyky. He wanted families to find comfort in a suddenly broken world.

Hennadiy was a caring father, and when he was called up he reassured us "everything will be alright".

Hennadiy found joy in being a husband and father. In 2023, he explained to Jasmine that he had already lost 17 of his childhood classmates to the war. His deepest concern, he said, was what might happen to his son when it was his turn to serve.

In 2024, Hennadiy was called up to defend Kharkiv. A year later, on 16 May 2025, his heart stopped beating at the frontline. But his spirit lives on — in the countless lives he touched, in his son, and in his hope that he carried so bravely.

As we honour his final wish for his funeral — a prayer or a moment of thought for the orphaned child — we thank everyone who helped enrich Hennadiy’s life.

Thank you for joining us in remembering Hennadiy, and in giving care to children.

Hennadiy was a great colleague.

A true friend. A caring father.

Henna will stay forever in our hearts.