When hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians flooded into western Ukraine in March 2022, seeking to preserve their lives, there were individuals and organizations in Lviv who found the strength to begin working with the new waves of displaced people. One such organization was the Сharity Foundation "Your Support" which launched the "Your Support Shelter" project in Lviv that same month. Responding to the unprecedented need of Ukrainians for safety and, in particular, temporary shelter, the shelter became an oasis of calm and support for those who became victims of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine."
Within the shelter, all necessary conditions for people who were forced to leave their homes were recreated. From equipped resting rooms and large kitchens to children's playrooms and interactive learning zones, every aspect was carefully considered to make the lives of the displaced a little easier. The shelter provided not only a place to rest but also access to basic hygiene and comfort essentials, helping to preserve dignity during the most challenging times.
"The 'Your Support Shelter' is a place in Lviv where Ukrainians can temporarily stay and decide what to do next. Many have lost their homes and belongings. People arrived to us with just one bag in their hands, containing everything they managed to salvage", – commented Lyubov Voznyak, the shelter's director.
Thanks to the "Your Support Shelter" project, 4,500 people have found temporary homes and safety. At the same time, when the BF "Your Support" implemented the grant from the ISAAR Unity, 1,116 Ukrainian men and women (684 adults and 432 children) utilized the shelter's basic services.
"Mother was eighty-six years old. I carried her in my arms; she couldn't walk. They beat us, but we survived. We hid in the basement, carrying her down in my arms. Mother is mother; I would never abandon her. They took us away in a bus", – shares his rescue story Viktor Ponomarenko, born in 1959, who lived in Bahmut, Donetsk region, and worked as an ambulance driver before arriving at the shelter.
"I like it here. I am very grateful to them (editors – volunteers who delivered), for not forgetting us (editors – those from Donetsk and occupied territories). Many thanks to all the people! Thank you to all those who support us... Support is very precious. If they support us, then it's easier both on the front and everywhere in Ukraine," says Victor about the shelter conditions and expresses gratitude to the project organizers.
At the initiative of the BF "Your Support" during the period of the ISAAR Unity grant, 353 beneficiaries underwent anonymous project surveys. 98.5% of the respondents indicated that they were satisfied with the living conditions and the service provided by the staff.
The "Your Support Shelter" project is implemented by the Charitable Foundation "Your Support" and made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) within the Ukraine Civil Society Sectoral Support Activity implemented by ISAR Ednannia in partnership with the Ukrainian Center of Independent Political Research (UCIPR) and Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM). The contents are not the responsibility of ISAR Ednannia and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.
