Heard and Seen

Hope in a New Hometown

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Week of Compassion has continued to accompany individuals and families affected by the war. Three years into this conflict with no clear end in sight, accompanying Ukrainian refugees is less focused on temporary arrangements while waiting to return home, and has redirected to helping them more fully integrate into neighboring regions, in addition to supporting the communities that are actively welcoming them.

Children and the elderly are especially vulnerable when adjusting to new environments. To enable integration into the wider community, programs are established as survivor- and community-led responses (SCLR). Week of Compassion’s partner, Hungarian Reformed Church Aid, has distributed micro-grants to refugee communities and in their host communities in both Hungary and Ukraine. This SCLR program's goal is to embrace community-led initiatives that foster lasting integration, empowerment, social cohesion, and resilience building.

In Budapest, the Ukrainian Space offers after-school programs for primary and secondary students, from arts and crafts to Hungarian language courses, from mathematics to cookie decorating! As their young lives have been disrupted by war, these programs provide an important place for children to simply be together, for them to paint and play and talk about their home, their family, life in the place they left and in the place they live now. Knowing the importance of resilient and integrated communities at every age, elders can gather weekly with the Ukrainian Elder’s Club, for learning activities at the Ministry Center or cultural programs in Budapest and surrounding towns.

Read the full Mission Moment: Ukraine here.