Help us make a safe house habitable for Ukrainian women

When we think about the struggles Ukrainians are currently facing, our minds automatically go to the war and rightly so. Many have been, and are still being, displaced, injured, killed, traumatised. It’s utter devastation.

For some Ukrainians, it’s even worse. War isn’t the only thing putting them in danger, something much closer to home is. Domestic abuse.

Since 2022, we’ve been helping Ukraine where we can, collecting and delivering humanitarian aid to towns and cities all over the country.

This time around, we’re doing something different.

We’re working with a safe house for Ukrainian women and children affected by domestic abuse, raising funds to provide them with new showering facilities.

The safe house in question is based in Ivano Frankivsk and currently hosts 14 adults and 25 children. Care and support is provided to them until they are able to live independently again.

Although each person has arrived at the safe house as a result of domestic abuse, they all have their own stories. Their own troubles and triumphs.

Here’s some examples of what they’ve had to go through:

Woman 1

Woman 1 came to the safe house with her two sons. She arrived from the Dnipropetrovsk region, leaving behind fifteen years of horrific abuse by her husband. Her story is filled with pain and struggle. Woman 1 endured things that are difficult to even imagine. She was on the verge of a breakdown, but at the very last moment, she found the strength to escape and seek help. This was her chance to protect herself and her children from further suffering.

When they arrived at the safe house, her then 14-year-old son could not read at all and his eyes revealed constant fear. Woman 1 admitted that she was most worried about his future because stress and instability had robbed him of the opportunity for normal development. Thanks to the work of the safe house, he is now studying at a vocational school. The boy confidently reads, writes, and has begun to believe in himself. Woman 1’s other son is also finding his path to a stable childhood and Woman 1 herself feels safe again and ready to begin a new life, free from violence.

Woman 2

Woman 2 is a young mother who came to the safe house with 2 children whilst being 6 months pregnant. Life had tested her from a young age – she was orphaned and had no family support. Unfortunately, her marriage brought further challenges and her husband abused both her and the children. Seeking safety, she turned to the safe house for help.

Today, Woman 2’s youngest daughter is 6 months old. Woman 2 not only provides loving care for her children but has also embarked on a journey of self-development. She is attending photography courses and truly striving to change her life.

Like all of our missions, we can’t do this one without your support.

To give the safe house new showers, we need donations.

Please help us if you can and share our appeal with like-minded friends and family.

Thank you.

Tim and Deborah.