Support KOLO - shelter and restoration program at Tepla Gora eco center

 

Your help counts!

We firmly believe that only by fighting together in this war and by making our civil contribution can we make the impossible possible. People in Ukraine are suffering, hiding in bunkers and cellars. They lead a life in the sound of siren alarms, constantly confronting atrocities of the Russian army. Cities and villages being bombed; people being killed, abused and raped; millions are forced to leave their homes, families, loved ones and their whole lives. People from East, South and Central Ukraine are looking for refuge in the West Ukraine or leaving the country. Thousands of volunteers are helping around Ukraine. The war continues and we do not know how long it will last. Faith, hope and will for freedom are holding the resistance in Ukraine, but these difficult times subject people to anxiety, exhaustion and pain. The depth of the collective trauma on the scale of the whole country is impossible to imagine. We suffer with them, we are deeply affected and saddened. And yet we do not remain powerless and are looking with all our strength for ways and solutions to be able to reduce this suffering and to ignite light. Our weapons are warmth and help to those who need it most. We believe that creating a space to mend the wounds and generate resilience to stay with the unknown of the present time is essential right now. This is how a long-term "KOLO"-program came about. Together we build our present and our future, every help counts!

Tepla Gora - "KOLO" and our mission

This campaign is initiated by the community of Tepla Gora, which means ‘the Warm Mountain’ in Ukrainian. We dream of a bright future around the world and we are building an international eco center in the Ukrainian Carpathians. Before the war, Tepla Gora was a place for holistic retreats and recovery, for learning and co-creating. During the war, we are continuing to fulfill our mission and create an environment for restoration, adapted to the current conditions. In the healing environment of nature, away from siren alarms and dangerous attacks, we offer temporary shelter and support for internally displaced people as well as a place to pause for volunteers who give their time, energy and unconditional commitment to help around Ukraine. Thanks to the program “KOLO” (meaning ‘Circle’, or coming together in a circle), they all can find a safe haven and an opportunity to recharge and start over at Tepla Gora eco center. This program is for all people regardless of gender identity and sexual orientation, age, nationality, race, language, health status and any other differences.

We, international volunteers, create Tepla Gora and follow the vocation to guard peace, seek strength and inspiration in nature, live and long for creativity and personal growth. We are creating a safe container of infrastructures, relations and practices that convey mutual support and care. A space that gives a possibility to rest, digest and build up resilience. We center collective healing through which people can feel again the ground under their feet and sustain hope and faith. We do this program for the sake of freedom, dignity and the right to be alive, in the circumstances of the war which endangers life itself.

We offer

1. Covering basic needs: free accommodation on Tepla Gora for a period of 2 to 30 days - depending on needs and wishes, as well as vegetarian food and necessary clothes.

 

2. Warmth: psychological support through daily circles of trust, communication with psychologists, restoration and healing practices (through arts, nature, embodiment work etc.), joint work (cooking, harvesting firewood, gardening etc.).

 

3. Transit to a new life: consulting on finding housing, moving abroad, employment. If necessary, transfer to the border. A little financial help at the start.

 

Our geographic position gives an advantage to host internally displaced people (IDP’s) as well as volunteers who can reach the place from the surrounding cities or can quickly reach the border from our location.

 

Anyone interested in the „KOLO“-program can register at https://teplagora.org/kolo. Currently, we can accommodate up to 25 people at a time. During March and April „KOLO“ hosted close to 50 people from all over Ukraine, majority of whom are women and children.

People who are participating in the program

The program has already involved the participants, hence building a space for empowerment through active and self-defined co-creation.

 

Sashko, a blacksmith from Kharkov, has made furniture for the common house in our carpentry workshop. Just before joining the army.

Iryna, Sashko’s wife is a psychologist who is providing free of charge psychotherapy sessions for other IDP's.

Elya, a musician, took over the cooking. She came with her mother and 4 cats, and left her beloved violin at home, near Kyiv.

Iryna, another native of Kyiv has been sharing the kitchen workload with Elya, delighting everyone with her baking masterpieces, while also helping out to start growing veggies at Tepla Gora.

Tati, who is an acting skills teacher, has become our dedicated home manager. She is taking care of the place and its residents with her great organizational skills.

Current needs of the program “KOLO”

In order to sustain a safe container and hold a big number of people in comfort and dignity, we need your support! Donations will help us to cover following expenses:

- buy 6 bunk beds // 1400 €
- dishwasher and double sink // 600 €
- toilet and shower in the house // 1000 €
- farming tools and equipment // 2000 €
- a scooter (500€) or carrier electric bike (4000€) for short market trips 
- covering the basic financial struggles of our team of volunteers, that also includes IDP's, so that they could sustain themselves and continue contributing their time to support those in need during this war

 

We achieved during the existence of the program “KOLO”

With the help of donations we:

Partners and team

The program is partly supported by our partner GEN UKRAINE from Global Ecovillage Network. The community of Tepla Gora who are volunteers of different backgrounds and localities is taking care of coordination and facilitation of the program.

We welcome volunteers who want to help us and become part of the team. Anyone who is interested in arts, handcraft, environmental sustainability, embodiment and healing is also welcome to visit the place and contribute. Contact us by phone or Telegram if you want to help or become a part of our team: +380965515608

Other ways to support

Become our steady donor on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/teplagora

 

And last of all

See you soon on Tepla Gora! Become a part of us with your contribution. With love, your Teplogorians.