Day 4: The Next Generation

Today was a truly transformative day. We arrived at The Good Samaritan Children's Home, a place of hope and care for children in need, which is now expanding to include boys. Greeted warmly by Andrea Katko (Director) and Knot Jurjen (Manager from the Netherlands), we felt the deep commitment of this community.  They have a normal capacity for 75 children, but because of the war they are currently caring for 125 children, so we are helping them to expand their capacity.

After months of preparation, which included a complete renovation of the space, which was funded by Direct Aid For Ukraine, we completed the conversion of an unused storage space into a cozy boys dorm, with 2 big 6 child bedrooms, a bathroom, a learning space and a living space.  By 9 a.m., we were assembling IKEA furniture to make it ready for the boys to move in. Even the local TV crew jumped in to help assemble desks and chairs! 

By 5 p.m., the whole dorm was complete. It is now a very comforting space for the 12 boys, who immediately moved in that evening to make room for new arrival's from the East. Meeting the children was the highlight of the day. Their smiles and hugs radiated gratitude and joy, a testament to the love and care they receive despite challenging circumstances. Harold and Rachel even took time after lunch to teach boxing, bringing moments of fun and connection.

Welcoming the boys into their new home was unforgettable—“Wows,” hugs, and smiles filled the air. It was a powerful reminder of how small acts of kindness can create lasting change.