Here are the periodic updates that Caritas-Spes Ukraine sends us to tell about its work in support of the Ukrainian population, victims of the war. In particular, in recent months, the donations collected by AMU and AFN through the collection launched by the Focolare Movement have supported two centers for assistance to displaced persons in Yablonitsa and Bryukhovychi-Lviv . In these spaces, every day, families who had lost their homes or had abandoned them followed one another. Some stayed longer, others less because they found refuge in other locations, because they managed to leave the country or because they tried to return to their homes in the areas left free by the occupation.
The center of Yablonitsa
It is located in the Carpathians, in the Ivano-Frankivsk region. Before the war, children were hosted in this center every summer for various activities. Now, this place is home to displaced people, housed in two large dormitories and several two-story houses. In addition to providing food and accommodation, the staff, nuns, priests and volunteers promote activities to make the passing of the days easier. The most popular are the English and Ukrainian courses . In the latter, participants, especially the youngest, can learn about the culture, traditions and sometimes even typical foods of their country. Thanks to art therapy, painting and general psychological support , led by specialists, many people can deal with the stress caused by the war and its consequences. Practical involvement in the center’s activities remains the most effective therapy : guests help with cleaning the spaces, preparing food, gardening, preparing firewood, welcoming and sorting humanitarian aid. Since the beginning of the conflict, around 300 displaced people have been assisted in Yablonitsa.
The Polomnicky dom house in Bryukhovychi ā Lviv
This is a center that is usually used for spiritual exercises and since February 24, 2022 it has hosted mainly women, children, elderly people and people with disabilities. In these months, hundreds of people have passed through this center, including many families with children and elderly people, some arrived only with documents and others also had luggage. In the House, refugees have a safe place to sleep, three full meals a day, medical care, spiritual and psychological support . And for those who want to cross the border with Poland, a transport service has been organized to take people to the border. Refugees in the center have the opportunity to go to doctors to undergo all emergency and specialist tests, including vaccinations and to the dentist. Here there are several animators who take care of children and young people by organizing various sports activities : football, basketball, volleyball. And then drawing, origami, craft workshops as well as activities in the field of cooking (during the Easter period, typical Easter sweets, pizza, biscuits… were cooked). Concerts prepared by the children, an exhibition of drawings made by the animators, courses for growth and development, art therapy, and individual and group consultations with a psychologist are held. Since the beginning of the conflict, approximately 200 displaced persons have been assisted in Bryukhovychi-Lviv.
