"Harmony" for everyone: how a shelter in Ivano-Frankivsk became a home for war victims
⠀
The shelter «Harmony» in Ivano-Frankivsk functioned as a shelter for victims of domestic violence before the start of the full-scale invasion. Since March 2022, 82 Ukrainians who were forced to leave their homes due to the war have found refuge here.
⠀
62 women and 14 children of various ages from the Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Donetsk, Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia regions received help and refuge in the space created by the public organization "Cultural and Educational Society Ukrainian Youth Group".
⠀
"We created a shelter on the premises where there was the sports hall once. We made small cosmetic repairs, installed boilers for heating water, put shower cabins, equipped the kitchen and created conditions for the comfort of people with disabilities. We see a great need for shelters for those who were forced to leave other regions of Ukraine. We will gladly share our experience on how to do it quickly and efficiently and on who to turn to in case of any problems," says Andrii Markiv, head of the organization.
⠀
With the support from the #ShelterUkraineCampaign program, bunk beds, kitchen furniture, mattresses, bedding, household appliances (microwaves, electric stoves, and electric kettles), hygiene products, and household chemicals were purchased for the shelter rooms in «Harmony». The shelter's electricity costs were also covered thanks to grant funds.
⠀
Now, thanks to activists and benefactors, the «Harmony» shelter has a library, fairy-tale therapy classes, various pieces of training (providing first aid, acquiring teamwork skills), and one can also get legal advice.
You can help Ukrainians too, read more here.