Charity Project “Happy Hearts” — a home for families to save their children from illness and war
Every day, families from various countries — especially from Ukraine — are forced to seek refuge abroad in search of medical help for their children. Serious diagnoses, prolonged examinations, treatments, and war compel parents to leave their homes and look for assistance in other countries.
We are launching a new charitable initiative “Happy Hearts” aimed at supporting families with children undergoing treatment in Italy.
- Our goal is to create a home primarily for Ukrainian children and their families who are fleeing the war and lack access to vital medical care.
- Our core mission is to help and support children suffering from serious illnesses. We strive to give hope to their families as they face the harsh reality of illness by offering free accommodation to those who cannot afford to stay in Italy for their child’s treatment.
Health-related migration, especially among children, can be defined as the movement of patients from less favorable conditions to locations offering better medical opportunities. In our case — to Italy.
Italy offers significantly better options for diagnostics and treatment of children. However, this type of “migration” to Italy is a difficult and exhausting journey — both economically and emotionally — due to the numerous challenges young patients and their families face when forced to leave their homes behind.
At such vulnerable times, when they feel powerless and alone, families must also worry about finding shelter and food, often ending up in distressing and unstable conditions.
Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital in Rome has become a crucial center for many seriously ill children from Ukraine and other countries who require diagnostics, surgery, long-term treatment, rehabilitation, and ongoing health monitoring.
Families arriving in Rome to care for their children at Bambino Gesù will now have a “home”, a safe and supportive place to stay during one of the most difficult periods of their lives.
A home in Rome will allow sick children to live more normal lives: to play, study, and feel true joy in a peaceful environment that contributes to both their physical and emotional healing. Inside the house, families will be able to stay together, away from the stressful hospital environment. Each family will have the opportunity to connect with others, share meals, or watch a movie together. The goal is to give them strength and support during these challenging times.
The pictures show families who have already walked this painful path: evacuation from Ukraine, hospitalization at Bambino Gesù, the fight for their children’s health, daily struggles, and life in a new country. They know firsthand: support is not a luxury, it is a necessity. These families now support the creation of the “Happy Hearts” project because they want others not to face these hardships alone.
“We went through this ourselves — and we know how important it is to feel that someone will welcome you, help you, support you. We want other mothers and fathers not to be left alone.”
— a mother supporting the “Happy Hearts” project.
We invite you to join us in creating the “Happy Hearts” project.
Every contribution will help a family walk this difficult journey with hope, not despair.
The “Happy Hearts” Project is to give every child a chance for health, even far from home.
Together, we can do more.
