“These days, we’re finally living — not just surviving,” says Anna Musiyenko after several months living in a temporary housing village in Smila — a safe haven built with temporary homes for families displaced by war.

Kostiantynivka, a city in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, has endured relentless shelling and heavy fighting since 2022. Once a thriving industrial city, it has been devastated by war. In September 2024, she, her mother Valentyna, and her two sons — 12-year-old Yaroslav and 9-year-old Myroslav — were forced to leave everything behind. They said goodbye to their home, their school, and their neighborhood, because staying would have meant exposing their children to daily danger.

After fleeing Kostyantynivka, the Musiyenko family found their first sense of stability at Save Ukraine’s Hope and Healing Center in Smila. The center, supported by local authorities and international partners, provides displaced families with shelter, legal assistance, healthcare access, and most importantly, a chance to rest and breathe again.

True recovery is about more than just housing — it’s about rebuilding a life, being welcomed into a new community, and finding connection. The Musiienkos found this at the local Good News Church (Blaha Vist’), where Anna participates in support groups.

Today, the family has moved into their own rented apartment — a new phase marked by stability, daily routines, and renewed hope for the future. “Our hearts are still in Kostiantynivka,” Anna says softly, “but I want my children to have a childhood — not just war.” Despite everything, the kids have adapted quickly: attending school online, competing in academic contests, winning awards, and making new friends.

Every day, Save Ukraine supports families who have lost everything, helping them find safety and rebuild their lives. The resilience and solidarity of Ukrainians like Anna and her family inspire us all. You can join this vital mission and help bring more stories of hope to light. Share this story to show how compassion truly transforms lives.