Every morning marks the beginning of a new day and reminds me that I live in a peaceful country where democracy reigns. I am almost constantly in the Ukrainian orphanage in Burgenland, which I evacuated with my partners at the beginning of the war on March 27, 2022 and for which I am responsible.
This morning, the carer Irina was in tears because her 25-year-old son is fighting at the front and has not reported. This omnipresent threat of war is also making itself felt: last week, Luda, another carer, traveled to Ukraine to bury her 22-year-old son who died in the war.
As the granddaughter of World War II soldiers, I know their stories, but I did not experience the war myself. In the orphanage, however, I feel the constant presence of war. Our carers fear for their sons, husbands and brothers and wait for news every evening. Far from home, they dream of peace and a united family.
Our 53 young children grow up without fear, but we constantly fight for their well-being. These children have often suffered from neglect and physical and psychological problems.
Running the orphanage is an immense challenge, the extent of which I was not initially aware of. We thought it would be a short war, but now we are about to enter the third year. More and more children are entering the school system: since September, 27 of them have been attending kindergarten and school.
It is our responsibility to provide safety and protection to these children as they have already been through a lot in their young lives. Every step forward counts and can make the difference between despair and hope.
kleine herzen supports not only the orphanage but also 25 families affected by war, thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and donors.
We live in the moment and do not think about tomorrow. We are resilient and hope for peace. With winter approaching, the situation is becoming more difficult: poverty in Ukraine is increasing and many do not know how to heat their homes or feed their families.
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