"They come to us like they come home": how a unique Children's Town was created in the Carpathian region, where they treat with love

Author: Khrystyna Savchyn. Source: CITY

When children first come here, most of them hardly speak at first. Some don't look at each other in the eye, some don't believe that adults can do things just like that, and some are used to being constantly scolded and prefer not to show emotions.

But a few days pass and everything changes. There is laughter by the pool, arguments about football are going on on the sports field, and in the evenings the children gather around the volunteers and tell stories that they were previously afraid to confide even to their closest people. When it comes time to leave, many cry and ask the same question every time: “Can we stay for at least one more day?”

This is how the Children's Town "Angel's House" works - a center for rehabilitation and support for orphans and children in difficult life circumstances in Goshev, where love has become not a slogan, but a daily practice. Orphans, children from shelters, social and psychological rehabilitation centers, and children experiencing difficult life circumstances come here. Here they receive not only rest, but also a sense of security, support, and the presence of adults they can trust.

But this story didn't start with a large-scale project or major investment. It started with a random television story that changed the life of one student.

One call that changed everything

In 2005, student Vitalii Saban accidentally saw a program about pediatric oncology on TV. What he saw wouldn't let go.

"It was a revelation for me. I didn't even know that this happened. I didn't know that children were undergoing chemotherapy, losing their hair, and fighting for their lives every day. But this story really touched me," he recalls.

The program featured volunteers from Kyiv who helped children with cancer. At the end of the episode, they left the phone number of one of them, and Vitaliy called. After the conversation, he received simple advice: go to the local oncology and hematology department and see what he could do to help.

What we saw there was shocking: many children were losing their chance of recovery simply because of a lack of funds for treatment, and the problem itself was almost invisible to society.

"I was welcomed with open arms. We saw a huge need for help. That's when we started raising funds for the children and their families," says the founder.

This is how a volunteer initiative was born, which later grew into the "You Are an Angel" charitable foundation.

A fund that has no salaries

At first, the team helped individual families and raised funds for children's treatment. Over time, it became clear that more systematic work was needed, and the foundation was officially registered.

Gradually, we managed to purchase important medical equipment for the oncology and hematology department, including infusion machines and other devices without which it is difficult to provide treatment.

A feature of the fund is that it still operates without full-time employees.

"Our foundation hasn't had a single employee in 17 years. Everyone has their main job, but they find time for their children," says Vitalii Saban.

All expenses are directed as much as possible towards assistance, rather than maintaining the structure. This has allowed us not only to support the children, but also to gradually accumulate funds for a larger project.

From summer camps to a big dream

Over time, the foundation began working not only with children with cancer, but also with children from orphanages and boarding schools. Every summer, they organized camps in the Carpathians, renting houses and providing children with recreation and a development program.

But each time one question arose: why not create your own space that would work all the time?

At that time, the fund already had about two million hryvnias in accumulated funds, which they managed to put into deposits. These became the basis for starting the construction of the Children's Town.

The land that was given for the sake of children

The search for a location for the future center lasted almost a year. The choice was made in Goshev, an area with a special atmosphere and history.

"This is a very special place. Once upon a time, there was the first monastery of the Basilian Fathers nearby. Archaeological excavations were conducted here. The place is very prayerful and atmospheric," says Vitalii.

When local residents learned about the project, they agreed to donate the land for free. Later, another family donated an additional hectare.

This is how the territory of the modern "Angel's House" gradually took shape.

The war that could have stopped everything

Construction began a year before the full-scale invasion. The frame house was already up when the war began.

Funding was sharply reduced, grants stopped, and donors refocused on the needs of the army. The project was in danger of being halted.

But the team decided not to give up on the idea and gradually brought the construction to completion.

Before the war, the foundation had over 200 volunteers. Today, there are significantly fewer of them left: some left, some went to the front, some died. There were fewer donors, but the work did not stop.

"We are going through a difficult period right now, but the children are waiting. That's why we continue anyway," says Vitalii.

Now the majority of the center's volunteers are Mr. Vitaliy's family.

Here they treat not only the body

Today, “Angel's House” can accommodate up to 25 children at a time. Children from various social institutions from all over Ukraine come here.

The program of stay includes psychological support, art therapy, aquatherapy, sports classes and medical consultations. The territory has a heated swimming pool, a space for active recreation and recovery, as well as conditions for individual work with children.

But the main thing here is not infrastructure, but attitude.

"Love heals. We have seen this hundreds of times"

This is how Vitaliy Saban explains what happens to children while they are at the center.

In institutions, they are often described as difficult, withdrawn, or aggressive. But at Angel's House, behavior changes.

"We were told: hide things, close the doors, don't leave anything unattended. But we didn't hide anything on purpose. And nothing went missing from us," he recalls.

“The heads of institutions ask: what do you do with them? We answer: nothing special. We just love them,” the founder adds.

They are coming home.

The last day of each shift is always the same: the children don't want to leave. They ask to stay at least one more day, hug the volunteers and cry.

"They come to us closed off, insecure, and after a few days they start to smile and open up. And this is the biggest miracle we see," says Vitalii.

For many, this place becomes the first experience of a real home.

"Everyone has their own bed, their own bedside table. They know that they will be listened to and supported here. They come to us as if it were home," he says.

As long as there is strength, this house will live.

There are still many plans ahead: a sports complex, a sensory room, new rehabilitation facilities, and transportation for children.

But the main value has already been created.

This is a place where children first feel that they are loved not for something, but simply because.

"We don't do anything special. We just love them," says Vitalii Saban.

And perhaps this is the answer to why "Angel's House" became what it is today.

These children usually don't ask for anything. They just come, live a few days in safety, and move on. But for them to have somewhere to come again, this space has to be constantly working.

You can support "Angel's House" here:

BO “BF YOU-ANGEL”

JSC CB “PRIVATBANK”:

IBAN:UA 153052990000026007035502278

Purpose of payment: charitable contribution

MonoBank:

IBAN: UA103220010000026005700011009