More than 100,000 children are orphaned in Ukraine, often abandoned by their own families. These children face a life without love from parents, and with an uncertain future. As they turn 16 and must leave the orphanage – without money, education, or support – many fall victim to poverty, violence, crime, or prostitution. The ongoing war has exacerbated these circumstances.

In 2013, the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate in Lviv, Ukraine created the Home of Hope – a safe house for endangered young women. The Sisters provide an environment off the streets that promotes self-worth and dignity. They ensure day-to-day needs are taken care of, enabling them to go to school. Living in community, the girls learn life skills from the Sisters, with the hope someday living independently.

There are currently 23 girls, aged 15 to 23 living at the Home of Hope in Lviv. Almost 100 girls have lived in the Home and have moved on to happy, stable lives. They are grateful for you!

Your generosity provides financial support for the Home's annual operations, including food, clothing, school supplies, medicine, utilities, transportantion and other household items that enable the community to operate day-to-day.

The Sisters in Ukraine have recognized the need for an additional Home of Hope, this time in Chernivtsi. With your help, a second community will open, and provide the support for vulnerable girls seeking a safe place to live and study in Chernivtsi.

Your love gives hope and futures for these girls. Thank you!

A message from Sister Veronika, SSMI

I’m not sure how much you know about our mission in Lviv, except that it is a place for girls in difficult life circumstances and at a vulnerable age. Today, I want to share with you what these words truly mean.

Among our girls are those who have been self-reliant since the tender age of 12 – those who became orphans despite having living parents. It is scary to even think about it, but “status orphans” (children who have lost their parents) have at least financial support from the state. Orphans with living parents have nothing but extreme amounts of pain and the hope of being loved one day.

Some of the girls have loving parents, but had to flee from the war, or financial difficulties do not allow them to settle in a new city where they come from little villages to study. They are looking for a supportive community in order to enter adulthood in a warm environment, learn to interact, find lifelong friendships, and open their hearts to God.

Each girl has her own motivations. Yet our singular aim remains consistent: cultivating a sanctuary of safety, familial warmth, and domestic tranquillity. We want to be their Home, not an institution, and we do everything we can to provide that loving place.

We recognize that our girls are still children yearning for the tender embrace of maternal love – longing for the luxury of sleeping in, relishing freshly prepared meals, and feeling shielded from harm. The luxury of living a normal life, having clothes and food, going out to the theatres, hiking, exploring, having tutors and classes for their talents’ development. These are luxuries they have been denied, their childhoods stolen away.

Yet, we stand by them, offering silent solace and attentive ears. At first, they romanticize and idealize their past lives. Then, they jest about their transient homelessness. But eventually, as trust blossoms and fear subsides, they begin to share their stories with candour and vulnerability…

Sister Veronika Khytra, SSMI, Director of Home of Hope Lviv

More stories from Home of Hope

• Your love fills the Home of Hope with joy!

• In their own words

Would you like to support Home of Hope?

Your gift to Home of Hope through Lubov SSMI Foundation ensures vulnerable girls in Ukraine have a safe and loving place to call home.

See your love in action!

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