A New Home for Lidiya in Hrakove

What Was Left of Home

Lidiya was 62 at the time. Early in Russia’s full-scale invasion, her house was hit. Her husband died in the strike.

Her daughter was studying in Kyiv. Lidiya herself was not originally from Hrakove, and she had no relatives nearby to turn to for help.

The photographs show broken walls, burnt household belongings and piles of bricks that had to be moved. Lidiya worked alongside us, too, helping clear the yard.

A Home Lifted Above the Ruins

On 20 July, we set off for Kharkiv Region before dawn. It was a long journey — and our first modular-home installation in the region.

Alongside us was Glenn, a volunteer from Australia. He had travelled a long way to offer practical help in Ukraine. In Hrakove, he took on the hard work just like everyone else.

At the site, we cleared rubble, prepared the supports and made room for the truck-mounted crane. Then the finished home was lifted above what remained of the old brick walls. People on the ground guided it as it was slowly lowered into position.

At 2:51 p.m., one word appeared in our team chat: “Installed!”

But the day was not over. We assembled furniture and began making the new space livable. Inside were two beds with mattresses, kitchen cabinets, a sink and a refrigerator.

On the same piece of land, the charred walls of the old home now stood beside a small new one — a place with somewhere to sleep and prepare a meal.