Projects help ensure education, support for youth 3 years into war

(MissionNewswire) The war in Ukraine, which started with a Russian invasion three years ago, has left more than 6.9 million refugees and 3.7 million displaced, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Today, 12.7 million people need humanitarian assistance, including nearly 2 million children. Throughout these difficult years, Salesians have remained committed to supporting Ukrainian youth and their families.

A Salesian working in Ukraine said, “It is very important for us to continue supporting children and young people. We actively seek them out, even in occupied areas, and strive to maintain contact with them. Most importantly, we do everything possible to ensure they can continue their education.”

Salesians report that the impact on education has been devastating. Over 4,000 schools — accounting for 13% of the country’s educational infrastructure — have been damaged or completely destroyed. As Ukraine enters its fourth year of war, the nation faces immense uncertainty, with discussions of a possible peace.

Father Luis Manuel Moral, head of the Salesian Mission Office in Madrid, said, “We hope for a just and lasting peace. These years of war have brought immense suffering to the people. Our commitment is to peace, and we will continue to support the population — especially children and young people, who remain our true mission.”

The Salesian Mission Office in Madrid is one of many Salesian organizations directly involved in supporting Ukraine’s war-affected population. Projects have included the Mariapolis house, a shelter that houses nearly 1,000 displaced people, a winter survival program that ensures schools remain safe spaces where children can continue their education despite Ukraine’s harsh winters, and bunker construction.

The Pokrova parish bunker in Lviv provides psychological and spiritual assistance to more than 230 people, and psychosocial care helps 67 children cope with trauma. Salesians have also created mobile schools in Vynnyky and Zhytomyr. These schools were created with the support of the Real Madrid Foundation and the European Union and provide 150 children with a place to play, receive educational support, and access psychosocial care.

The Salesian noted, “Our lives were shattered three years ago — broken by the sound of cannons and the whistle of missiles. Normalcy no longer exists: the smell of breakfast in the morning, a goodbye kiss before school, the comfort of a safe night’s sleep. Today, everything is a nightmare. We are surrounded by insecurity and violence. Life itself has been put on hold.”

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Misiones Salesianas

ANS – Ukraine – Three Years of War and More Uncertainty Than Ever

Salesian Missions

UNHCR – Ukraine

*Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.