The First Lady of Ukraine, together with the Olena Zelenska Foundation team and an Estonian delegation, visited the Melnyk large foster family from the Donetsk region.
The Address of Childhood project, supported by the Estonian government through the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV), has built a house for a family with seven children in the Zhytomyr region.
“Visiting families like this one always inspires me personally. Despite the war, and the loss of their family homes and their familiar social environment, these families with many children are immensely optimistic and continue to dream. And that is the most important thing. I am glad that my Foundation provides such families with space for their dreams, and not just space in the form of new square meters,” Olena Zelenska said.
She noted that the family with foster children had to look for a place to live for almost two years.
“Supporting Ukraine is our main priority, and the finished family house is an important milestone that clearly shows that we keep our promise. We will continue to contribute to the safe future of Ukraine and Ukrainian children. All the steps we take for Ukraine will bring the war to a victorious end,” said Margus Tsahkna, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia.
The new house is fully inclusive, energy efficient, and has a shelter. It has a heat pump and a diesel generator. Inside, there are appliances, furniture, kitchenware, five rooms for children, and a separate bedroom for the parents.
The Olena Zelenska Foundation began its cooperation with the Estonian government and the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV) a year ago. It was then that Estonia joined the Address of Childhood project.
The Melnyk family is the eighth large foster family to receive a new home within this project. It is planned to build 10 more houses this year.
