Ukraine, a corner of peace in the heart of the Carpathians

Olena’s new home is now the Caritas-Spes Yablunytsia camp for displaced people, in the heart of the Carpathians, where she found a comfortable bed, a hot shower and good food. It is certainly not the home she lost in the war, but it is at least a more peaceful place : “In the regions where hostilities continue, where the enemy launches its deadly missiles, people live constantly in a state of danger, uncertainty, fear, panic. The most important value of human beings is at stake, life.” Many flee abroad, or to safe areas in Ukraine. One of these safe areas is the Caritas-Spes center in the Carpathians, the mountain range to the west. Olena says she has found her new peace, in the reception center that can accommodate up to three hundred people: “Here the human soul heals.” Nature helps: “The facility is surrounded by mountains and spruce forests. The area resembles a fortress created by the hands of God. The river, flowing, seems to emanate music” . Olena describes it as a place that feels like peace, after the hell of war, where mothers can raise their children without fear and worries: “There are creative workshops, English and dance lessons for children and adults. In the evening you can play ping pong or watch films”. The women who are hosted themselves participate in the care of the facility and the surrounding garden. “When this war is over, we will win and return home. And there, we will always remember the welcome we received in these mountains, the Carpathians, which united us even more. Thanks be to God and thanks to all those who gave us the warmth of a home in the cold of war.” (The text is a summary of the article published on the Caritas-Spes Ukraine website, from which the photographs are also taken)