Our Impact

Help that reaches children where it is needed.

Since our foundation, we have already reached hundreds of children through our missions and projects.

Our teams regularly operate throughout Ukraine – from hospitals and children's medical facilities to regions close to the frontline.

Our work includes:

+ Paediatric critical care transport.
+ International medical evacuations.
+ Evacuations from frontline areas.
+ Emergency training for children and teenagers.

Hinter jeder Zahl steht dabei ein Kind, eine Familie und eine Geschichte.

Why Ambulance for Kids?

The idea behind Ambulance for Kids grew from years of experience in international medical transport.

Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, our founder Marc Friedrich initially helped establish a medical air bridge and participated in the evacuation of critically ill and injured patients from Ukraine.

One problem became apparent again and again:

Children were often transported within systems primarily designed for adults.

But children need different equipment, different medication doses, different medical strategies – and professionals experienced in paediatric emergencies.

Marc Friedrich himself spent several years working in paediatric intensive care and has extensive experience in emergency medical services, international air ambulance operations and patient transport.

These experiences led to the foundation of Ambulance for Kids in 2023.

An organisation where children are not simply included in an adult system.

They are at the centre of everything we do.

We work where we are needed.

Our operations in Ukraine are planned and carried out together with local partners, hospitals and humanitarian organisations.

This enables rapid decisions and short communication channels – particularly when a critically ill child urgently requires specialised treatment or a family needs to leave a dangerous area.

We combine medical expertise from Germany and Ukraine with local knowledge as well as an international network.

Practical. Professional. Direct.

Every evacuation starts with people who make it possible.

Ambulance for Kids is a non-profit organisation and depends on donations and support.

Fuel, medical supplies, medicines, vehicle maintenance, protective equipment, accommodation and emergency kits for children all cost money.

At the same time, the need for our work continues to grow.

When you donate to Ambulance for Kids, you are not funding an abstract aid project.

You are making something very real possible:

You help bring a child to a specialised hospital.
You help bring a family out of a dangerous area.
You give a child the equipment and knowledge to save a life in an emergency.

Help us keep moving. Every kilometre can bring a child closer to safety.

Together, we can do more.

Our work would not be possible without our partners, supporters, volunteers and fellow humanitarian organisations.

We believe in cooperation, not competition.

Because in the end, it does not matter which logo is on the ambulance.

What matters is the child inside and whether that child arrives safely.

About Ambulance for Kids

Our organisation

The Ambulance for Kids project aims to make the evacuation of children in Ukraine safer, more professional and more child-friendly.

Help Today

We are Ambulance for Kids (AfK), a small NGO formed through Marc’s experiences evacuating children during the Ukraine crisis. AfK specializes in emergency medical aid, intensive care, and medical transport for children in conflict zones. Without government funding, we rely on donations to continue our humanitarian aid. As a certified non-profit, we can issue donation receipts for tax purposes. Your support enables us to deliver vital medical equipment for children, protecting their health in emergencies.

Our vision

Since January, with our specialized ambulance, we have maintained a constant presence in Ukraine, focusing on raising awareness of Ambulance for Kids (AfK) and our children's healthcare services. We visited almost every children’s hospital in Ukraine to share our intensive care and medical transport expertise. By mid-March, we began regular evacuations and transports within Ukraine and abroad, ensuring children in need receive emergency medical aid and equipment during the Ukraine crisis.

Our Mission

Our mission is to evacuate and transport children under high standards, prioritizing safety and professionalism. Our vehicles meet EN1789 standards, and we reject the notion that safety is compromised due to the Ukraine crisis. Equipped with an incubator, Maxi-Cosi mount, and stretcher, we are prepared for every situation. Our team comprises volunteer experts in children’s healthcare, emergency services, and pediatric medicine. Our Medical Director, Dr. med. Moritz Thiel, leads us from the Children’s Hospital of the University of Cologne. We are committed to ensuring children’s health through reliable emergency medical aid and transport.

The AFK Project

Why a specialized Pediatric Mobile Intensive Care Unit (PMICU)?

Children need unique care—they aren’t just “small adults.” Specialized intensive care is essential.
Specialized medical equipment for children is absent in standard ambulances.
Standard ambulance staff may lack experience with children’s emergency medical needs.
Improvisation is risky, even for well-prepared services.
Distances between Ukraine’s clinics are vast, with rough roads prolonging medical transports. With specialized vehicles and skilled personnel, we ensure children’s health during transport.