When Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, the 167 children in Father’s House orphanage were uprooted from their home in Kyiv with little notice and within a few hours were loaded into four 60-seat buses. It was 10:30 at night when the children ages 3 to 18 packed what they
could and wrote their blood type on their backpacks in the event of emergency. Roman Kornijko, pastor of the church and orphanage, told the children they would need to think as if they were 10 years older and take responsibility for one another. “If someone gets hurt you need to take care of that person,” Pastor Roman said to the children. “When we get out of Ukraine I will return you to your childhood. But right now you need to be like adults.” The three-and-a-half-day journey brought them to the Polish border where they found safety, hospitality, and rest before continuing on to Freiburg, Germany where they are currently being housed in four different refugee camps. Their aim now is to find a location where they can all be safely housed together again. The evacuation is over, but the trauma is not over. They’ve had trauma by losing their parents, they’ve had trauma by living in an orphanage, and now they’ve had the trauma of evacuation from their country under bombing. It’s been difficult and exhausting for the adults. Time will tell how difficult its been for the children.
A professor at SDSU’ School of Public Health, Ken Calver, has been involved with a group of people at a local church that have supported this orphanage for nearly 20 years. If you or someone you
know is interested in helping the children of the Father’s House orphanage secure a permanent location in Freiburg, Germany, you can make a tax-deductible donation by using the link below. 100% of your donation goes directly to Father’s House. No part of your donation goes to Faith Community Church or any other entity for service or transfer of funds.
Donate to Faith Community Church – This link will take you to the giving portal where you can make a donation by credit card or checking account transfer.
Thank you for your compassionate care and interest in these precious children.
Other ways to donate:
- Locally in San Diego, The House of Ukraine (museum in Balboa Park) has set up a way to support
Ukraine by either donating here or by purchasing Humanitarian Aid and delivering the items to
the House of Ukraine. - World Food Programme. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s
largest humanitarian organization fighting hunger worldwide. With teams already on the ground
in Ukraine and neighbouring countries, WFP is working around the clock to reach vulnerable
refugees and families trapped in conflict areas with the food, help and hope they desperately
need. - International Rescue Committee