From Adversity Comes Solidarity: Hemp Houses For Refugees In Ukraine

This article was originally published in El Planteo and appears here with permission. 

As Ukraine is bombed by Russia, a contractor creates hemp houses to accommodate refugees.

Even before Russia started the war, contractor Sergiy Kovalenkov was beginning to offer Ukrainian citizens a healthy, environmentally friendly space to live.

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As the war destroyed homes in many parts of the country, Kovalenkov's mission grew, with more and more refugees displaced.

Social project

The bombs did not stop Kovalenkov, who launched the Hemp Ukraine Recover project. The nonprofit organization aims to provide sustainable hemp housing solutions and psychological help to citizens and veterans affected by the war.

"Many of the projects we had planned have come to a standstill and clients have fled the country," Kovalenkov told the Hemp Today portal. The founder and CEO of Kyiv-based construction company Hempire started building hemp houses in Ukraine in 2015. "There is a big financial blow for Ukraine, as millions of citizens are leaving with their savings."

See also: Using Hemp In The Construction And Textile Industries: What Are The Benefits?

The Hemp Ukraine Recover project has turned to crowdfunding to support the development of Morshyn, where hemp concrete, hempcrete, is being used to build houses that will serve as shelters for war victims.

The future of the country

Some refugees who lost everything are building their own houses thanks to the project. According to Kovalenkov, the nation's future lies in teaching about hemp construction on site, acquiring knowledge that will be valuable in a post-war reconstruction scenario and continuing to focus on sustainable construction.

The developer also says construction will not stop, even during the winter months, The Hemp Ukraine Recover project is now focused on lining up sources of supply to accelerate construction in the spring, while expanding its fundraising and media activities.

See also: Is Hempcrete The New Green Construction Material? It Could Soon Be Approved As Just That

"It is difficult to build in winter, especially as temperatures drop and power outages last for many hours due to rocket attacks," Kovalenkov explains. However, the founder of the movement claims that they are already closing the structures.

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Photo by Max Kukurudziak on Unsplash