Valerii and Nataliia Shapovalov come with their grandchild to the heating point to play chess and give the child an opportunity to socialize. Photo: LWF/ L. Gillabert
How LWF fosters community support in war-torn Kharkiv
(LWI) - A warm home, a hot meal, electricity, and uninterrupted sleep—these are no longer guaranteed for many people in Kharkiv, Ukraine. The city’s critical infrastructure is frequently targeted by drone and artillery attacks, especially in winter.
For three years, The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Ukraine program has supported so-called heating points—safe, warm spaces where community members can take refuge during shelling and power outages. Here, people can charge their phones, enjoy tea, coffee, and meals. Thanks to support from ACT Alliance and Diakonia Act Austria, and in collaboration with its partner Spilna Sprava, LWF Ukraine has equipped eight heating points in Kharkiv with lamps, flashlights, household essentials, toys, food, and beverages.
Svitlana Esavlenko, director of Lyceum 107, a secondary school in Kharkiv, oversees one of these heating points. While her 800 students attend the offline portion of their studies in a nearby metro station, Svitlana and some of her staff also manage a heating point within the school.
“During the day, we prepare more than 1,000 meals. We have a special kitchen with a firewood stove. Our colleagues from the kindergarten came to help us prepare the food. It’s also a space where teachers can support online education,” she says.
Esavlenko Svitlana, director of Lyceum 107 now runs a heating point in the building. Photo: LWF/ L. Gillabert
Natalia Svyrudova is the director of the Proskyru school. The heating point is important for the community, she says. Photo: LWF/ L. Gillabert
Sergii Shyshko, volunteer and community member, cuts the wood and prepares the stove at the heating point in Shyshkovaska: “When I'm at home I'm alone, but here I have more fun and don't feel so alone." Photo: LWF/ L. Gillabert
“We also meet here at the heating point so the kids can socialize. Last year, during the many blackouts, students even participated in the online Olympic Games.”
Esavlenko and her team have set up a workspace with laptops and internet access, where they organize training on security, demining and first aid, and arrange New Year celebrations for the children.
A remedy for loneliness
The heating points serve a purpose beyond replacing damaged infrastructure. In Ukrainian, they are referred to as “Places of Invincibility.” They provide a sense of community and help combat loneliness, especially for the elderly who have stayed in Kharkiv and now live alone, says Natalia Svyrudova, director of the school in Proskyru 3, where she also manages a heating point.
“This area is under frequent attack. Blackouts and water shortages are common. But this space allows people to connect. When the situation isn’t critical, people come here to meet. Many of them live alone, mostly elderly residents. We also take care of them.”
This area is under frequent attack. Blackouts and water shortages are common. But this space allows people to connect.
Nataliia SVYRUDOVA, director of school Proskyru 3, Kharkiv, Ukraine
Svyrudova shares the moving story of a father and son who were reunited at the heating point after an attack had completely destroyed their home. Each had believed the other to be dead.
“You cannot imagine the emotion when they saw each other again,” she says.
An “Unbreakable” community spirit
It is this resilient community spirit that keeps people going, even three years after the invasion, says Léa Gillabert, LWF donor communications and operations support officer in Ukraine.
She tells the story of Valerii and Nataliia Shapovalov, an elderly couple who visit the heating point every weekend with their grandchild. While the child plays with others, Valerii and Nataliia play chess. Nataliia, who works at the school, says, “We love coming here to talk to people, to relax, and to play with the children.”
Despite the challenges, the couple is determined to stay.
“Our part of town is called ‘Unbreakable,’” they say. “We left Kharkiv for one month in April 2022 and went to a village near Dnipro. But when the situation improved slightly, we came back in May. This has been our home our entire lives.”
The heating points are supported by the ACT Alliance and Austrian Diakonia,and implemented by local partner Spilna Sprava dla ljudej.
ACT Alliance has issued a new appeal to help the people of Ukraine. Please support our work by donating (link below).
