Solidarity with Ukraine: The Work Never Stops

As the war in Ukraine passes the thousand-day mark, Fondation de France continues to assist Ukrainians and refugees, as it has for the past two and a half years. From November 7 to 12, Karine Meaux, Head of Emergencies at Fondation de France, traveled to Ukraine, Slovakia and Moldova to review ongoing projects with nonprofit partners, implement winter measures, and set future priorities.

As part of her visit, Karine Meaux took part in the Open Transcarpathia Forum. On November 8-9, public sector and non-profit actors gathered to think through the strategic role of Transcarpathia. Located in southwestern Ukraine and bordering Hungary, the region plays a crucial role bridging Ukraine and western Europe.

Karine Meaux in front of a store house in Nyzhnie Selyshch, with farming equipment for the villagers, built thanks to funding from Fondation de France.

Helping Refugees Integrate

Several initiatives supported by Fondation de France in Transcarpathia aim to provide a stable future for refugee families facing the onset of winter. In the Carpathian Mountains, three local partners work together to help around forty displaced families build their lives again. The Longo Maï cooperative focuses on the economic scope whereas the Association de Transcarpathie pour le Développement Local (ATDL - Transcarpathia Local Development Association) oversees the work needed in the village of Nyzhnie Selyshch. In conjunction with these organizations, the nonprofit CAMZ manages logistic, administrative, and financial matters.

Projects include the creation of a welcome center, known as Le Refuge, and repurposing premises previously belonging to local authorities. Appropriate accommodation is now provided to families from the east of the country – they have little hope of ever returning to their original homes. The latter also benefit from training in income-generating activity, such as market gardening, bakeries, agricultural services, and the implementation of social and administrative procedures. Local residents also contribute to the integration of newly arrived refugees by hosting them, joining in their projects, and providing English and Ukrainian language lessons. Elderly and disabled people are cared for in dedicated locations, where heating is provided in winter. “Our project aims to see displaced families permanently settled. The process involves stable accommodation, proper income, and social support to ensure they feel at home,” explains Oreste Del Sol, Longo Maï Cooperative Head.

In Nyzhnie Selyshch, a house in the village is being renovated to house a family of three from eastern Ukraine, for as long as necessary

In Tyachiv, with the support of Fondation de France, nonprofit CAMZ has renovated a welcome center for displaced people, now boasting solar panels. Liaising with the municipality, the center also offers basic humanitarian aid, including drinking water distribution, clothes and food.

Continuing to Respond to Emergencies

Beyond Transcarpathia, the Angels of Salvation NGO operates throughout Ukraine. From the start of the conflict, more than 5 million people have received help: food and toiletries were distributed to 400,000 recipients, 230,000 were housed, and 100,000 benefited from legal and consulting advice. The NGO also supplied educational support to 19,000 children. “Angels of Salvation is one of our key partners in the field. It constantly adapts to the changing needs of vulnerable people,” highlights Karine Meaux. In areas close to the front line, as is the case in Lyman, a town in the region of Donetsk, Angels of Salvation stays on the front line, despite repeated bombing raids. In the face of strikes that destroy homes, cut off access to energy as winter sets in, and upend the lives of entire families, humanitarian input is critical. Liubov, a resident of Lyman tells us that “My neighbors’ house burnt, but, thankfully, they weren’t at home. My own house was spared, but bombs shattered the windows. We live in terror. Every day, Angels of Salvation helps us meet our most urgent needs.”

TO FIND OUT MORE

→ Solidarity with Ukraine: lasting commitment from Fondation de France
→ Solidarity with Ukraine: Two years of action
→ Solidarity with Ukraine: a year of action