By Giacomo Carlini | International Partnership
Soleterre's staff visited a shelter in Dnipro, which has been operating since April 2022 in a gym. Originally intended for brief stays, residents can now remain longer if they follow the rules. Ruslana, the shelter manager and a refugee from Luhansk, highlights the need for continuous repairs due to the large number of residents, including 20 children among the 70 living there. She emphasizes the need for a dedicated space for children.
Yuliya, a psychologist working with Soleterre, explained that most children attend school online, as they suffer from trauma and fear attending in person. Some classrooms have been set up in underground shelters to avoid disruptions. However, overcrowding is a growing issue, with some classes reaching 45 students. Yuliya believes that for children in the shelter, socialization happens naturally through shared spaces, but structured activities are still important.
Ruslana shared that it’s rare for residents to find jobs and move into their own homes due to the high cost of housing. Although many work, including Ruslana herself, many prefer to stay in the shelter to save money.
Yuliya noted the challenge of dealing with recurring trauma, as daily alarms can trigger anxiety. Elderly people need attentive listening, while children respond well to play and relaxation techniques. She sees great resilience, particularly in women, but more people are in need of psychiatric care. A new protocol now allows access to free psychiatric visits through family doctors.
The team also met Volodymyr, a 69-year-old former coal miner who recently arrived from the heavily bombed Donbass region. A lifelong AC Milan fan, he fondly spoke of football and his family’s mining tradition dating back to 1937. Despite his deep attachment to his home, he said his priority is his family’s safety. If Donetsk remains Ukrainian, they plan to return, but if not, they will settle in Transcarpathia.
Soleterre’s Commitment and Global Support
Soleterre’s work in Ukraine is part of its broader mission to provide support to those affected by conflict and trauma. In the midst of the ongoing war, Soleterre’s humanitarian operators and psychologists stand by the Ukrainian population, offering critical psychological and emotional support to help rebuild lives shattered by violence. Their tireless work on the ground addresses both immediate needs and long-term mental health care, ensuring that people like Ruslana, Yuliya, and Volodymyr can regain a sense of stability and hope.
This vital assistance is made possible by the generous support of donors from around the world. Through their contributions, Soleterre is able to maintain its presence in Ukraine, delivering life-changing services to thousands of people who have lost homes, livelihoods, and loved ones. It is this global solidarity that fuels Soleterre’s mission, turning compassion into action and giving families in Ukraine the chance to rebuild a future in the face of immense adversity.
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser