A week of presence, peace and healing for Ukrainian womenÂ
🌿 What to Expect
“Light on the Shore” is a 7-day retreat in Norway for Ukrainian women affected by war.
It offers a gentle rhythm of rest, nature, silence, shared meals, reflection, and presence — with yourself, others and God.
Each day has a theme. Each step opens a new layer.
This is not a program to fix you — but a space to be held and heard.
We meet in softness, not in pressure. In presence, not performance.
What you’ll find here:
a slow, safe rhythm
space to breathe and reflect
shared meals and walks
conversations and rest
creative time and stillness
spiritual care
warmth, nature, and community
From the very first moment, you enter a space where you can finally slow down.
No expectations. No pressure. No roles.
This is the day when a woman stops living in “I have to” — and steps into “I can.”
She can simply be.
She can exhale.
She can feel: “They were waiting for me here.”
Warm tea, soft music, a personal welcome by name — every detail says:
“You’re home. You matter. You are not alone.”
This is how the journey of inner restoration begins —
with gentle acceptance and permission to simply be yourself.
When understanding surrounds you, there’s no need to defend yourself.
This day is about connection — the kind that needs no explanation.
Women come together — from different cities, stories, and losses — yet their hearts are close.
No one asks, “What’s wrong with you?”
Instead, they say: “I’m here if you want to talk. And I’m still here if you don’t.”
Soft conversations, shared silence, a quiet walk to the water —
and suddenly, a space opens up for something real:
trust, tenderness, a gaze that doesn’t wound.
This is the day when a new kind of sisterhood is born.
No competition. No comparison.
Just a deep “I see you — and I’m staying.”
There are moments when words no longer work — but the hands remember.
This day is about deep action without noise.
About faith that doesn’t shout, but quietly reaches out — gently, yet persistently.
The women take the yarn.
They knit — a scarf, a bracelet, loop by loop.
Not for the result, but to feel: “I’m still alive. I can still create.”
In that touch, there is more than just yarn.
There is a tiny hope pushing through pain.
This is the day when a gesture of faith speaks louder than any sentence.
When every stitch becomes a prayer:
“I am not broken. I am moving forward.”
This is a day when simple things become sacred.
Not lectures. Not rules. But breakfast, bread, silence, a blanket.
It’s about presence — the kind that doesn’t need words.
The women prepare food together. Slowly. With warmth.
Someone lights the fire. Someone slices fruit. Someone simply sits nearby.
No one is pressured. No one is competing.
And in that space — healing begins.
Because when nothing is demanded of you — you begin to open up.
And when the center of the table holds not noise, but a candle —
the One who’s been waiting quietly all along, enters.
This is the day when Christ isn’t in theory — He is in the everyday.
In the glance. In the piece of bread.
In the silence that speaks more than any word.
There’s something deeply powerful about being called by your name.
Not “mom,” “wife,” or “refugee.” But you.
This day is about meeting yourself.
Not the version taught to stay silent — but the one God created:
real, alive, worthy.
A quiet practice, where each woman listens for how God is calling her.
A simple photo — no makeup, no filters — just you.
And a strange, beautiful realization: “That’s me. And I like who I see.”
This is the day when dignity is restored.
When a woman stops trying to figure out who she should be —
because she remembers who she truly is.
At some point, the heart overflows — and can no longer stay silent.
This day is about a woman who is no longer afraid to give.
Not because someone expects it, but because love lives inside her.
Each woman prepares a small gift — simple, symbolic, sincere.
A note, a stone, a handmade bracelet, a cup of tea.
All of it — like the perfume in the Gospel.
A gift without explanation. Worship without a stage.
A glance. An embrace. The giving.
And in her heart — a quiet certainty: “I am not empty. I have something to give.”
This is the day when a woman becomes strong again — through tenderness.
And the gift, offered in love, begins to speak louder than any words.
This isn’t the end — it’s a beginning.
The woman who, just a week ago, was tired and silent,
now carries something new inside her.
Light. Strength. Fire.
Today, she doesn’t say goodbye — she carries it with her.
A note. A word. A blessing.
And most of all — the memory that she was seen, heard, and loved.
Quiet hugs. Letters to the future. Intentional silence.
And a new question burning in her heart:
“What will I do with this fire now?”
This is the day when Christ is no longer just on the shore.
He’s in her heart. Walking beside her.
Leading her back into life — where pain may still exist,
but now there’s strength to carry the light.
🕊️ What makes MRIYA unique?Â
– Safety and stillness
– Norwegian nature and warmth
– Spiritual presence
– Creativity and aesthetics
– Small group – deep trust
This is more than a program. This is a meeting.
Light on the Shore is not just a week of rest — it’s an inner journey.
From exhaustion — to acceptance.
From silence — to faith.
From tears — to strength.
It’s a place where a woman doesn’t need to be strong to be worthy.
A space where healing comes not through words, but through presence.
And where each woman returns home transformed — with her name, her fire, and her hope.
We believe our program can grow in strength and warmth through people like you.
Do you have a gift, a skill, or an idea that could support women in grief?
A creative activity, a physical exercise, a conversation format — or something entirely different?
MRIYA is a living space, and our program welcomes new inspiration from volunteers and friends.
🎨 🎶 🫶
You’re welcome to send us a proposal and become part of the journey.