In the town of Dublyany, which is part of the Lviv community, construction has begun on Ukraine’s first family-type town for orphans and children deprived of parental care. The project, called ‘Children’s Homes,’ is being implemented by the charity organisation SOS Children’s Villages Ukraine in partnership with the Lviv City Council, with support from SOS Children’s Villages Denmark and the Hermann Gmeiner Foundation in Germany.
The town will consist of three houses, in which up to 24 children will live with their foster parents. A social centre open to the entire community will be set up nearby. The first families will be able to move in next year.
According to Serhiy Lukashov, director of SOS Children’s Villages Ukraine, the aim of the project is to give children the opportunity to grow up in a family environment rather than in boarding schools. ‘We are creating not just housing, but a whole support system — with psychologists, social workers and teachers. This helps both the children and their foster parents,’ he said.
The houses will be built in the Scandinavian style — bright, simple and comfortable, with plenty of natural light. Children’s and sports grounds will be set up on the territory to make this space a lively community centre. The total cost of the project is about €2 million, and all funds are charitable.
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