More than two and a half years after the Russian invasion, let's not forget the Ukrainians fleeing the bombardments as the war continues... 

Thanks to you, Rosalie Projects has been able to faithfully support the Daughters of Charity community in Smotrych, western Ukraine, since 2017. The sisters serve the poorest people in this small town, and now also refugees...

Sr Zofia bears witness to the ravages of the ongoing war, the great suffering of the local population and the refugees arriving in Smotrych.

"Before the war, Smotrych was a poor village of 2,000 inhabitants inhabited by Ukrainians and Poles. The war in Ukraine has actually been going on since 2014, with the fight for the Donbas. The situation in the country was already difficult: industrial decline, unemployment, poverty, crime.

But since February 2022, the war has continued throughout the country, destroying everything.
The economic situation of the population has deteriorated even further. The men are fighting on the front line and some of them have died. Women with children, the elderly and the disabled are left behind.

Refugees from Eastern Ukraine have arrived in Smotrych. Some have stayed in our ‘House of Mercy’ for several days, or more, to rest before continuing their journey abroad; others are now living in buildings that were previously uninhabited.

When they arrive in Smotrych, they have almost nothing with them; they have left everything behind, their home and everything in it. They are often depressed, they no longer have a sense of purpose in their lives and are demotivated to take action.

Poverty affects not only the refugees, but also the residents of Smotrych. People don't have enough money to feed their families or buy clothes. Everyone is living with stress and uncertainty. People are finding it very hard to live. 

Before the war, we visited the sick and isolated in their homes, providing pastoral and medical care and assistance. We also had an after-school programme for children of all ages.

In this time of war, we are continuing our service to local residents and helping refugees who settle in our town or seek refuge elsewhere."

The project: to supply basic necessities to the refugees who continue to pour in.

The 70 beneficiaries of the project are internally displaced people fleeing the war, generally women with children, the elderly or the disabled.

"We are asking for your support because the war is still with us, and so are the refugees: we want to help them to start a new life, to find meaning in life and to overcome the depression and trauma of this war".
Sr Zofia

With them, thanks to you!