UCRAINA (ENGLISH)

CENTER FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITY "DIM MYLOSERDIA" IN CHORTKIV

Project co-financed through the 5x1000 tax scheme, own funds, and donations.
Local partner: Reception Center for Children with Disabilities “Dim Myloserdia” (“House of Mercy”).

Fondazione Don Gnocchi continues its commitment to supporting the Center, which today welcomes minors with disabilities—mainly intellectual disabilities—both in residential care and in outpatient day treatment, as well as vulnerable adults who clearly show the impact of the ongoing conflict. The House of Mercy is a key reference center for a community affected by alcoholism, domestic violence, extreme poverty, and the conflict.

Context

Ukraine continues to face a serious and prolonged political and economic crisis due to the ongoing armed conflict. The Ternopil Oblast, in southwestern Ukraine, is increasingly affected by the fighting and its consequences: many men leave for the front, abandoning their families, and sometimes return home severely wounded or disabled; many professionals, including those in the healthcare sector, are also leaving the country.

Need

At the House of Mercy, the minors hosted suffer from conditions such as rickets, autism spectrum disorders, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, psychophysical developmental delays, and intellectual disabilities.
In addition, the conflict has significantly impacted population displacement. From the earliest stages of the war, the House of Mercy has worked to welcome internally displaced persons. The current reception now focuses on children, mothers, and vulnerable elderly people. This choice makes it possible to resume rehabilitation activities for children with disabilities as much as possible. Training and upgrading local staff who experience significant turnover, also due to the conflict—is the primary need that Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi can help address.

Areas of Intervention

In 2018, the Foundation launched a collaboration project with the House of Mercy, aimed at providing comprehensive 360-degree support to the Center. The primary objectives were to improve the healthcare and rehabilitation aspects of patient care and to enhance staff professional training, while also strengthening organizational and administrative management.

Since February 2022, emergency aid has been added—including the shipment of essential goods, medicines, and medical supplies—in response to the new needs created by the conflict.
Ongoing support, capacity building, and remote training have been further enriched since 2025 by the opportunity offered by the Foundation for four House of Mercy staff members to participate each year in a training visit at one of the Foundation’s facilities in Milan. This opportunity is highly appreciated for its educational content, the exchange of best practices, and the relational opportunities it provides.

Recipients

The direct beneficiary of the project is the “Dim Myloserdia” Center in Chortkiv as a whole, particularly all its staff and patients.
Indirect beneficiaries include the families of those assisted, the surrounding community as a whole, and the local institutions directly involved.