Every day, AFFEO partners in Ukraine are implementing solutions to help meet the evolving and growing needs of vulnerable children impacted by war, with a focus on child protection and ensuring families stay together.
Tragically, when a family’s needs are not met, children (including children with disabilities) are the most at risk for being abandoned and trafficked during times of crisis.
To address the immediate housing needs for vulnerable children and families who evacuated from the east and have nowhere else to turn, one of AFFEO’s incredible partners is collaborating with local churches in Ukraine. They are installing prefab homes for families with children with disabilities and foster families on church properties. By supporting safe shelters for families, you are preventing children from being separated from their families!
The church is providing wrap around support to families, giving them community and ensuring their needs are met. Once families can find permanent shelter, each prefab home will be used to bless another family in need – a family like Mykola and Tetyana’s.
Mykola and Tetyana have two sweet boys Maksym (12) and Yevheniy (4). Maksym suffers from a severe form of cerebral palsy.
When the bombs started falling in their village, the family hid in a basement for four days completely unaware of what was happening. Yevheniy recounts the loud “thunder” he heard.
Once it was finally quiet, the family went outside to find everyone gone and their village destroyed.
Your gifts made it possible for this family to be evacuated to safety, and continues to provide stability through safe shelter and a caring church community. In the words of Tetyana, “Thank you to the kind people of this world!”
Beyond the physical help, you are giving vulnerable families a place to heal, safety for their children, peace in stability, and the hope of restoring their lives. You are protecting children and helping families remain together!