Estonia and the Olena Zelenska Foundation (OZF) opened the brand-new family-style small group in Ukraine’s Zhytomyr Region today. The house was built as part of OZF’s “Room for Childhood” initiative, with Estonia providing 376,000 euros in funding for the project.
Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska said that visiting such families always inspires her personally. “Visiting such families always inspires me personally. After all, despite the war, the loss of their homes, the usual circle, these families with a huge number of children have endless optimism and continue to dream. And this is the most important thing. I am glad that my Foundation gives such families space for their dreams, and not just space in the form of new square meters,” said Olena Zelenska.
Now foster parents Anastasiia and Oleksii Melnyk and the children they care for have a safe, comfortable place to call home. Six months after the start of the war, the family moved from the Donetsk Region to temporary housing in the town of Hryshkivtsi in the Zhytomyr Oblast.
“Offering hope to Ukraine is a huge task, as the devastation caused by this war is extensive. Providing a safe environment for parents and children who have lost their homes is a major undertaking for any country, let alone a country at war. ESTDEV continues its exemplary cooperation with OZF in the construction of family-style small group homes, and throughout the process, we aim to provide comprehensive support for Ukraine’s social welfare system,” said Klen Jäärats, executive director of the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV), which managed the project on behalf of Estonia.
Margus Tsahkna, Estonia’s minister of foreign affairs, confirmed Estonia’s continued support to Ukraine. “Supporting Ukraine is our top priority, and the completion of the family house is an important milestone that clearly shows that we are keeping our promise. We will continue to invest in a secure future for Ukraine and Ukrainian children. Every step we take for Ukraine will help bring the war to a victorious end,” said Tsahkna.
Their new family-style small group home is 285 square meters, with six bedrooms and five bathrooms, and has been made accessible for individuals with mobility issues. The house has an underground concrete bomb shelter in the yard.
Estonia has financed three additional family-style small group homes to be built in the Zhytomyr Region. Construction is already underway and scheduled to be finished by the end of the year. This summer, ESTDEV will bring the families who have been selected to live in these houses to Estonia. Parents will receive training on trauma-informed foster care, and the children will participate in a summer camp designed to provide respite from the wartime conditions in Ukraine.
In addition to the family home opened today, ESTDEV, in cooperation with the Olena Zelenska Foundation, Estonia’s Ministy of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Social Affairs, will bring the families staying in the family homes to Estonia during the summer to train parents and give children the opportunity to participate in a camp meant for war-traumatized children.
