Dzherikh Family
From: Velyka Novosilka, Donetsk region
Family members: Leonid (74), Tetiana (67), and Lidiia (sister of Tetiana, 85)

From Basement to Community

The Dzherikh family lived in a combat zone from the beginning of the war in Velyka Novosilka. When shelling began, they spent a month living in the basement of a five-story building, without heat, electricity, or water. Their building suffered a direct hit, and shells exploded nearby. They evacuated to Kyiv, where they rented housing.

“Surviving on our small pensions was difficult,” Leonid shares. They discovered an application for housing online and completed it. “We were fortunate; our family was selected to live in Kolonshchyna in Miracle Village.” Both their apartment and house in Velyka Novosilka were destroyed during the fighting.

“It’s hard to lose what we had all our lives — home, relatives, friends,” Tetiana explains. “In Miracle Village, our life has changed for the better. We received free housing and met new people. We are cared for by psychologists, doctors, lawyers; we receive humanitarian aid, eat lunch in the dining hall for free, and attend film screenings in the club’s cinema hall. Our psychological and emotional state has improved. We feel warmth and care, and we’re incredibly grateful to Dell Loy Hansen’s Mission and our wonderful administration for this life in our Miracle Village.”

Both spouses have found purpose in their new community through volunteering — Leonid serves with the fire team, while Tetiana works as a cook in the dining hall. After enduring basement living and the destruction of their homes, three family members spanning nearly two decades in age have found not only safety but also purpose and community that have helped them rebuild their lives.