Pregnancy Complications
Infant- and Family-Centered Developmental Care
Neonatal Eye Health
Hygiene
Rare Diseases
Families of preterm and sick newborns face unique challenges that require strong support, advocacy, and collaboration. Around the world, dedicated parent and patient organizations provide vital guidance, raise awareness, and drive improvements in neonatal and maternal care. Their voices ensure that the needs of babies and families are heard at every level – from local communities to international policy.
If you have already established a charitable parent or patient organization, advocacy group, or self-help initiative, we welcome your interest in collaborating with us. Ideally, your group has a clear vision for supporting families of preterm babies in your region and a defined path toward achieving these goals.
Accepted parent and patient organizations benefit from:
Regular exchange and digital meetings with our global network, including updates on GFCNI’s activities
Workshops and training opportunities designed to strengthen your impact
Access to a worldwide community of organizations eager to share knowledge and experience
Free information and campaign materials, potentially available in your local language
Opportunities to participate as supporters in global awareness campaigns
Across the world, parent and patient organizations are leading change for preterm and sick newborns and their families. By joining our global network, we create a stronger voice for advocacy, share valuable knowledge and resources, and work together to ensure that every baby and family has access to the care and support they need.
Below, you can explore the wide range of parent and patient organizations that are already part of our international community. If your organization is interested in joining our network, we warmly invite you to contact us at network(at)gfcni.org.
Club “28 Petel” (“28 Loops”) provides premature infant resuscitation departments in Kazakhstan with hand-knitted socks for babies. These wool socks are more than just warm support – they stimulate nerve endings in babies’ feet. Today, Club “28 Petel” is active in 16 cities across Kazakhstan. Volunteers meet once or twice a month to knit socks, producing around 50 to 200 pairs every two months.
In 2014, the club received official status as a charitable foundation. That same year, it participated in the PRI project “Strengthening Health and Social Services in Women’s and Children’s Prisons of Kazakhstan,” leading to the involvement of incarcerated women in Atyrau as club participants. The club has since gained followers in Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, and Dubai. In 2015, it sent small shipments of knitted items to Africa, Pakistan, and the United States.
In 2014, Club “28 Petel” was nominated as “Best Volunteer of the Year” in Kazakhstan. Since its founding, the club has produced 19,063 knitted items for premature infants.
GFCNI is the first global organization and network to unite patients, families, healthcare professionals,
medical staff, and scientists from different disciplines, fields,
and countries – all with the joint goal of advancing the health and quality of care for newborns and their families across the globe.
GFCNI is a non-profit organization established under German public law. Tax Reference Number: 143/235/22619
© 2025 GFCNI. All Rights Reserved.
PARTICIPANTS NEEDED:
BronQ Family is an international research project studying how Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD), also known as chronic lung disease of prematurity, affects children and their families’ quality of life over time.
Was your child born preterm? Participate now and help improve future care!
