City of Hope aids displaced persons in Ukraine

(ANSA) - ROME, SEP 30 - Amid the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, the City of Hope project has emerged as a crucial initiative aimed at bringing much needed housing support to at least part of the millions of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) across the country.
    The project is creating meaningful, positive change by providing safe housing, essential services, and pathways to rebuilding lives for thousands of displaced families. Once completed, the project is expected to provide support for up to 3,000 IDPs, addressing not only their immediate needs but also laying the foundation for a sustainable future.
    To date, the newly created much-needed living infrastructure can be found in Banyliv, a Ukrainian village not far from the boarder with Romania. The initiator of the construction of the "City of Hope " is Volodymyr Pakhnii, head of the Ukrainian International Center for Promotion of Entrepreneu rship, whose family had to go through the same path of displacement from their homes.
    The scale of displacement in Ukraine is staggering. According to official sources, at the end of la st year, an estimated 3.7 million people were internally displaced, while 6.2 million refugees fr om Ukraine have been recorded globally, including 5.8 million across Europe. The City of Hope ini tiative is aiming at becoming one of the main lifelines for this vulnerable population.
    Carolyn Davis, CEO at CDAG International, the company building the City of Hope, highlighted the impact of the project: "City of Hope is about more than just providing shelter; it's about giving people the support they n eed to actually rebuild their lives. By offering the much needed infrastructure, we are helping displ aced families regain a sense of stability and hope. My personal goal is to extend a helping hand t o those who are in need and this is the main reason for which I am now in Ukraine. Helping the people and supporting the country overcome these difficult and tragic times is a sustainable goal as it will guarantee the overall economic stability and improvement of the whole region. The resilience of the Ukrainian people continues to inspire us, and we are committed to standing with them a s they rebuild their future. " "Such houses are a lifebuoy for us. Today, many people are fleeing 5@Cwar and sometimes they have nowhere to go. And here people are already waiting for them. The idea is good, everything is well thought out, there are optimal conditions for life. You always have to start from something." said Yuliia Savenko, who came here from the Donetsk region.
    City of Hope's efforts are paving the way for a more stable and prosperous future for displaced families. By addressing both short-term and long-term needs, the project is playing a key role in Ukraine's ongoing recovery.
    The project aims to support up to 5,000 IDPs upon full completion, and continues to raise additional funds to meet this target, seeking partnerships with global organizations to help meet the nee ds of Ukraine's displaced population (ANSA).