Opening Ceremony at Shevchenkove

The Home of the Hawrylyshyn-Batruch Family in Shevchenkove Village

Creating proper living conditions for internally displaced persons (IDPs) within Ukraine allows these individuals to stay, preserving the core of our nation. Today, we want to share the story of the creation of a safe haven for IDPs called the “Home of the Hawrylyshyn-Batruch Family” in Shevchenkove Village, Vygodska hromada, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast. This project was realized by the charitable foundation MoveUkraine, founded in May 2022 with the goal of creating suitable housing for refugees who have fled conflict zones.

On February 24, 2022, the lives of a significant portion of Ukraine’s citizens, and beyond, changed dramatically. This includes not only the immediate victims of armed conflict but also those who have organized assistance for displaced persons during these challenging times. Our society has actively demonstrated its commitment to charity and volunteer activities, and support has poured in from members of the Ukrainian diaspora as well.

Numerous charitable foundations in Ukraine have been established to help displaced persons, allocating funds to help this group of citizens. Among these organizations, MoveUkraine holds a prominent position. It is officially registered as a Ukrainian charitable institution with co-founders from the United States and Switzerland. Transparency and integrity are the cornerstones of this institution, led by John Shmorhun, a representative of the Ukrainian diaspora in the United States, and a manager with over 30 years of international experience.

Recently, on August 15th, 2023, a shelter was opened in Shevchenkove Village, Vygodska hromada, in the Carpathian region. Reconstruction was carried out in an unfinished cultural center building with funds from MoveUkraine. The project involved excellent renovations and furnishing of residential spaces. The shelter can accommodate up to 28 people and includes 12 rooms (double and quadruple rooms), a communal kitchen, bathrooms, laundry rooms, a lounge area, and even a small library. There are plans for a sports hall and a cinema in the future. The key donor for this housing for displaced persons is the Hawrylyshyn-Batruch family, which is why the shelter is named the “Home of the Hawrylyshyn-Batruch Family.”

Support for IDPs is of significant societal importance. There are approximately 300 internally displaced individuals living in the community. A total of 4.5 million hryvnias were spent on setting up the shelter in a municipal facility. This included 400,000 UAH from the local budget and 100,000 UAH from the Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast Council. The rest of the funds were provided by the MoveUkraine Foundation. The reconstruction of the club for displaced persons has allowed their integration with the local population. The shelter’s manager, Yevheniia Moiseieva, notes, “We ourselves are from Bakhmut. In 2014, we moved to Kharkiv, and my father stayed in Bakhmut while my mother is in Balakliya. So, I know what it’s like to move from place to place and the conditions that can be. The rooms and beds are very nice, and there’s even a playground for children. It has everything you need.”

The Prykarpattia region has warmly welcomed people from the east, including those who have provided housing for refugees. The active support from IDPs demonstrates solidarity with them and a willingness to provide assistance.

Petro Hawrylyshyn