From Their Orchard to a New Haven

Viktor Tsyba, a 70-year-old former fitter-assembler, and Olena Kamchatna, 66, who once chaired a housing cooperative, never planned to leave their beloved Pokrovsk. Their home with its fruit orchard was their pride and joy, a place they tended with dedication and love.

War forced their hand in 2022. They boarded an evacuation train, leaving behind their house — its fate unknown, possibly completely destroyed. The anxious journey led them through Oleksandriia and Kirovohrad, where they spent a year as wanderers, before finding temporary refuge in Ternopil. Their last stop was Truskavets, where the cost of rented housing strained their resources.

After discovering Hansen’s mission online, they visited Chudo Village and filled out an application on-site. The acceptance call brought overwhelming joy — a chance to spend their remaining years in comfort seemed almost too good to be true.

On December 21, 2024, they moved into apartment 4.2. “It feels like a fairy tale, ” they say. The staff — Oleksandra Viktorivna, Larysa, Natalia — provided immediate support, making them feel welcome and understood.

Despite both living with diabetes (Viktor with a second-degree disability), they’ve found strength in their new community. While they hope for more frequent medical care and dream of working in the greenhouse, they’re grateful for this sanctuary.

Their advice to youth reflects their journey: “Respect and help your elders. Cherish your loved ones. Family and friends are life’s greatest treasure — they’ll stay by your side even when you’ve lost everything else.”

To Dell Loy Hansen, they offer heartfelt words: “Thank you for the chance to start anew in this peaceful place. May your kindness and generosity return to you a hundredfold! Thank you for your big heart!”

From their lost orchard to this new haven, Viktor and Olena have found not just shelter, but a community that understands the unique needs of elderly displaced persons.