The power of community: how Tepla Gora heals souls in the Ukrainian Carpathians

In the heart of the Carpathian Mountains, between Kosiv and Verkhovyna, lies Tepla Gora (‘Warm Mountain’ in Ukrainian), a five-hectare sanctuary and eco-centre. During one of the most difficult periods for Ukraine, it has become an important space for holistic rest, recovery, and co-creation. With the support of the EU4Youth programme, this community-based initiative is professionalising its activities to provide shelter to people forcibly displaced by war, as well as to create a space of rest and renewal for volunteers and all those seeking safety and warmth.

Tepla Gora was founded by Andrii Hrushetskyi, a former IT professional whose childhood dream of living in the Carpathians was rekindled by personal health challenges. What began as a personal “sabbatical”, a time to slow down and recover, gradually grew into a broader mission: a response to social isolation, anxiety, environmental degradation, and a lack of accessible educational opportunities.

The project website describes Tepla Gora as “a place to meet with nature and yourself, a place to recharge and to co-create with others”. Driven by a desire to respond to these interconnected social and environmental challenges, Andrii created a sanctuary based on the balance between people and the planet. “Our goal is to restore and inspire people to make positive changes in their own lives, in their communities, and in the environment,” Andrii explains.

This philosophy is embedded in the very infrastructure of the space. Tepla Gora is an example of sustainable development: 75% of the electricity comes from solar panels, and rainwater is purified for use in the kitchen and bathrooms. To maintain what Andrii calls “internal ecology”, the space is completely free of alcohol, smoking and drugs.

The project works on three levels: creating a space for individual healing, supporting the sustainable development of the local Carpathian community, and spreading eco-entrepreneurship and climate-positive values ​​in Ukraine and beyond.

With the outbreak of full-scale war, Tepla Gora has become a critically important shelter. As part of the Kolo (‘Circle’ in Ukrainian) programme, the centre offers free 10-day stays for vulnerable groups, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), veterans, and home front volunteers. Between February 2022 and January 2025, about 500 guests benefited from the programme, with some stays lasting up to six months, depending on individual needs.

“Our recovery formula is Community + Nature + Co-creation,” says Andrii. Guests at Tepla Gora feel accepted and cared for here. The peaceful, picturesque landscapes of the Carpathian Mountains soothe the mind and soul, and creativity, gardening, and co-creating with others help to restore energy and lift the spirits.

Examples of such co-creation happen all the time. Last autumn, one of the volunteers, Ihor, a former military man who has been part of the community for the past three years, came up with the idea of ​​building a small terrace in front of the hostel entrance. Teaming up with another volunteer, Vasyl, they implemented this idea, giving the entire team a cozy new space.

This approach is yielding tangible results. In addition to providing shelter, the centre has created seven jobs for internally displaced persons, many of whom initially came to take a break and later decided to stay to work or to volunteer.

In 2023, Andrii’s initiative received new momentum thanks to the EU4Youth Greenhouse for Social Innovators project. Thanks to the training and mentoring, Andrii was able to scale his vision.

“This support brought new knowledge and connections. An important insight was the realisation of the possibility of cooperation with eco-brands. Previously, they seemed inaccessible, but in fact, it is people like us who work there. As a result, we organised a joint promotional campaign to support the ‘Kolo’ programme together with DeLaMark, and were able to raise additional funds for receiving veterans at Tepla Gora,” says Andrii.

This journey has also become a path of personal growth. Andrii says that the experience has taught him to “let go of expectations” and embrace the unexpected opportunities for growth that arise in the process of co-creating with a diverse community.

Tepla Gora’s vision continues to expand. The team is currently working on the creation of the UA Unity Hub, the first energy-efficient public space for rural communities and people affected by war. The hub will become the heart of the space, offering a place for learning, leisure and community activities. It will also create new opportunities for young people through involvement in training courses, international projects, and directly through employment at Tepla Gora, which will encourage young people and internally displaced persons to stay in the region and build a future here.

“It is important for us that people with disabilities can come to Tepla Gora, recover and find inspiration here. That is why we will continue to accept people for free on an ongoing basis as part of the Kolo programme,”says Andrii. The team also strives to maintain affordable prices for young people.

Despite the challenges of co-creating with diverse groups during a time of crisis, Andrii remains motivated by both the landscape and the people he serves. Whether practising yoga at the Om Centre, a restored authentic barn, or hiking to ancient natural landmarks, the goal remains the same: to reconnect with oneself, renew oneself, and find inner joy.

To learn more about Tepla Gora and its activities, visit their website: https://teplagora.org/.