Ukraine: The mother-child house for domestic people
In Uzhhorod, women and children who have fled from the fighting areas get help. In the mother-child house of the "Committee of Medical Aid in Zakarpattya", they draw new strength and are supported by social assistants to settle in the foreign environment. There is help with diseases, with school or kindergarten registration, with applications for a permanent apartment. Because the families are often traumatized by the war experiences, psychological support is regularly offered.
"I can't complain," says Viktoria - not even, but again and again, and it sounds as if she still has to convince herself. The young woman and her two children come from Sjewjerodonezk near the border with Russia and for almost a year they have no home: "All windows in my apartment are tubular from the sound wave of a rocket, so I decided to flee with my two daughters," she says, snuggling down to the seven -year -old Darina on her lap. “When we had just left the city, I got an SMS that our apartment was completely burned. Now we are homeless. ”When Viktoria can only hold back her tears with difficulty, Darina caresses her face and hugs her. Where the strength of the adults is no longer sufficient, children become comforters.
Viktoria was still lucky in misfortune: "Take your children and come here," said a friend from Uzhhorod and helped her find a preliminary place to stay for her. Uzhhorod is located near the border with Slovakia and is comparatively safe. Around 110,000 people lived here in peace, now there are an estimated 300,000. Housing is scarce, but numerous voluntary initiatives help the displaced: they collect donations in kind and money or organize emergency accommodations. Like numerous other mothers and children, Viktoria and her children are housed in a disused industrial area with numerous office buildings. Terre des Hommes and its partner organization Macz (Medical Aid Committee Zakarpattya) support the work of the committed basic groups, which have come together under the name Sila Uzhhorodu (power of Uzhhorod) - for example with furniture, mattresses, toys or food. What is needed is obtained as a donation in kind or, where this is not possible, bought.
Get life under control - despite adverse circumstances
The MacZ team only consists of women, is closely networked with the small and large initiatives in Uzhhorod and has been working with Terre des Hommes since March 2022: Not only the volunteers are supported, an old hotel has also been bought and set up. Eight women and their children can live here at the same time, come to rest and learn to get their lives under control despite the adverse circumstances. The families can stay for six months, then the space is required for newcomers.
There is a play room and a community kitchen in the house. The mothers and children are accompanied by social assistants who support them in the school or kindergarten registration, with applications or educational issues. Because the families are at least unsettled by the war experiences and the flight, are often traumatized, there is regular psychological support. The advisory services are also used by women and children who do not live in the house.
Viktoria also received support in coping with her concerns: her breast cancer was operated on, and her daughter Darina, who is slightly paralyzed on one side, was treated. "She could only run on tiptoe, but now it is much better," says Viktoria and is grateful. The money for the operation came together through an ad hoc donation campaign in Uzhhorod.
"We feel in good hands"
"The support is great," says Viktoria. »We get food, water, there is a place to prepare food. Everyone has their own bed. We get everything, even the clothes we wear on the skin, was given to us. Everyone is trying to help us. All countries, all people in Ukraine. We feel in good hands. We ended up in the right place at the right moment. "
But there is a concern: "If we can no longer be here, we have to continue looking," she knows. “We no longer have a place where we could return. Everything is destroyed and burned. “I used to have many dreams. But now I only have a dream: to survive. For my children. "
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