Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, millions of people have been forced to flee their homes, creating a profound humanitarian crisis. Those who remain face extreme hardship and lasting trauma, particularly children.

It is in this context that the ‘This is my land’ project, carried out in Smotrych, Ukraine, was implemented to provide practical assistance and psychosocial support to some of the most affected families.

The sisters carried out a comprehensive needs assessment among families and children affected by the war. On this basis, several types of assistance were provided:

- distribution of basic necessities such as food, clothing, hygiene products and medicines

- Organisation of regular meetings at the House of Mercy, which provides a safe and caring environment

- Emphasis on psychosocial support, which is essential in helping beneficiaries overcome war-related trauma.

A striking testimony:
A refugee family from Zaporizhzhia, consisting of seven children, parents and grandparents, benefited greatly from the support. Gradually, the children began to smile again and look forward to meeting with the sisters. The adults, who were initially reserved and are not Catholic, expressed deep gratitude for the material and moral support provided, saying they could not imagine continuing their lives without this assistance.

"This project has therefore not only met urgent material needs,
but has also helped to restore hope and emotional stability to families deeply affected by the conflict." Sr Zofia