The Music Teacher’s New Symphony 

In Horlivka, where roses bloomed freely in every courtyard and storefront, 83-year-old Nellia Shapovalova once filled children’s lives with music. As a kindergarten music teacher, her days revolved around festivals, morning performances, and the joyful sounds of young voices. The city, known for its champagne wine factory and chemical plants, provided a backdrop to her melodious life.

Everything changed on April 7th when neighbors offered to take her with them as they fled. She found herself in Kryvyi Rih, where she spent two and a half years in a house without basic amenities — drawing water from a well, using an outdoor toilet, and struggling to stay warm without proper heating.

When distant relatives mentioned Senior Chudo Village, Nellia applied in June 2024. Though initially rejected, she later received approval to move in. “It was incredible, I was so happy — it was true salvation, ” she recalls, her eyes bright with emotion.

On November 18, 2024, Nellia moved into apartment 18.3A. Despite battling the effects of a stroke and hypertension, she’s found new purpose. “This isn’t just a village — it’s a dreamland. It should be called 'Paradise City, '” she says. “The care from Hansen, Alexandra, and Natalia — a person from God — is exactly what we needed.”

Now, Nellia attends creative workshops where she composes and recites poetry. She’s even started learning English, inspired by a desire to speak with Dell Hansen himself. “He motivates me to keep moving forward, ” she says. “It’s wonderful not to feel abandoned.”

Her advice to young people reflects her musician’s heart: “Be more gracious to others, show care, say hello — children are less friendly nowadays.”

From a city of roses to a paradise of peace, this former music teacher has found a new symphony in the caring community of Chudo Village.