Our shelter: 20,542 hostel beds and refugee stories

Since the war began we have actively responded to the humanitarian crisis, providing comprehensive support to people who fled their homes. In the first 7 months we provided these displaced people with 20,542 beds in hostels, and also provided housing to 40 women and children at a time in our "Care Center" and large family house. By the end of September a total of 784 people had moved on from our shelters.

When we started sheltering families we had to move quickly to help children who would otherwise sleep outside in freezing winter temperatures. We have since developed a comprehensive approach and specialised team to support children and help families to resettle.

So many individuals have been helped in substantial ways, such as the mother who needed psychiatric care, the blind woman who had no identity documents, and so many others who were in distress after fleeing their homes. These are some achievements from September:

• 29 children and their mothers moved to longer term housing
• 20 families helped to access aid or services from government and NGOs
• 5 displaced women found work
• 5 children enrolled in local schools, and 16 children attended school from our shelters

Aisha’s family: from the hospital to a secure home

Many families come to us from desperate situations. For example, Aisha is a mother of 4 children and fled from the Kherson region. Her youngest daughter, Lina, was born premature in February and was discharged from hospital just days before the war started. When Aisha finally managed to leave her occupied town, Lina weighed little more than 3 kg at 6 months old.

When they escaped to Lviv, Lina was admitted in hospital and the doctors kindly allowed the whole family to stay. Aisha tried to find shelter but was rejected because she didn’t have essential documents. She had no money and no means of subsistence. Oksana, our Social Work specialist, played a key role to determine the family’s future security.

“Aisha expressed gratitude with tears in her eyes, and often repeated that we were the only ones who believed her and did not leave her in a difficult situation.” – Care in Action - Turbota v Dii Director Maria Boiko

Aisha and her 4 girls moved into our shelter. We provided the family with clothes, food and help with resettlement. With our help to register with Social Services, Aisha and her daughters could finally get financial aid and move into the newly built mother and child center "Nezdemni Matusi" for longer-term support.

Lyuba finds work and dreams of home

Missiles, shrapnel and bullets were flying overhead almost everyday in Lyuba’s hometown in the Mykolaiv region. When a missile hit her son’s school she decided it was too dangerous to stay. After a difficult search for a place to live, she was referred to Care in Action and we gave her and her son shelter and helped her to find work as a cook. Lyuba says our friendly advice, care for children at our Creative Hub, and significant support gave her “the impetus to continue living”. To believe “We are strong – we can do it!” Lyuba wrote:

“My profession is in concert performances, however now I work as a cook. I discovered cooking is also a creative profession – though the uniform is different!”

“Now I live in a small, neat apartment. I found good hosts who restored my faith in honesty and humanity. Today, I don't care what brand of clothes I wear, how many calories I lose in the gym or what color scented candles are on the table... I want a peaceful and quiet sky - it is priceless. I want to return to my native home, hug my husband and just live. I want to rebuild destroyed schools, kindergartens, hospitals, universities, houses, streets, squares and parks. We, Ukrainians, are a strong nation! We can!”

(Names have been changed to protect identities)

Thank you to every donor who makes our support possible: to Razom for Ukraine and Lions Club Karlsruhe who funded some of the hostel beds, to Malteser International who provide mental health services in Lviv, to Munich International School who funded the first months of the Creative Hub for children, to Stiftung Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe who has funded our specialised team, and every private donation which makes such a difference.

There is an urgent need to help families prepare for winter. If you would like to buy an emergency light, blankets, or other essentials for Ukraine, click here to help today