Estonia and Taiwan open family-style small group home in Ukraine

“This project is not only about rebuilding what was destroyed but about restoring the sense of security, dignity and normal life that Russia’s war has taken away. Taiwan has shown that its solidarity with Ukraine is not just words - it is concrete support that reaches people where it matters most. Estonia brings its experience and partners together, Taiwan brings its support, and Ukrainian families get a safer future,” said Kristo Enn Vaga, chairman of the Estonian-Taiwan parliamentary friendship group.  

The financing covered construction costs for one fully furnished, seven-bed, four-bath, 212-square-metre house with a concrete bomb shelter as well as all associated project management costs.  

“This project goes beyond providing safe housing. It strengthens the resilience of children and foster families affected by the war. Through the cooperation among Taiwan, Estonia and Ukraine, we hope this home will support their recovery and help them build a more stable future,” said Cathy Wang, Director of the Humanitarian Assistance Department at TaiwanICDF.  

The construction of family-style small group homes supports Ukraine’s transition from institutional to family-based care. These homes provide large foster families, who have taken in children orphaned by the war, with a safe, energy-efficient place to live. 

According to ESTDEV CEO Andrea Kivi, every such home gives children the opportunity to grow up in a caring family and a safe environment. “In the midst of war, children need a place where they can once again feel calm and protected. We thank the Taipei Mission in Latvia, whose support enabled us to bring this project to life,” Kivi added. 

In October 2024, the Olena Zelenska Foundation, the Zhytomyr Regional Administration and the Zhytomyr City Administration selected Pavlo and Larysa Donichenko's family as the future residents of the Taiwan-financed group home. The decision was ratified by the Executive Committee of the Zhytomyr City Council in November 2024.   

Pavlo and Larysa Donichenko and their daughter Taisiia, now 12, relocated to Zhytomyr in September 2022 from the Kupiansk District of Kharkiv Oblast after their previous home was damaged. After completing mandatory training, they received two foster children in December 2024: Andrii (aged 15) and Anatolii (aged 8). In 2025, twins Adelina (12) and Karolina (12) and their brother Artem (10) joined the family. 

In addition to constructing the family-style homes, the project brought in Estonian experts to provide trauma-informed training and counseling for foster parents moving into these new spaces. This support was designed to strengthen overall family well-being and resilience, build parents’ confidence in their caregiving roles, and better equip them to meet their children’s needs.