Who We Are?

About Us — A Story That Began With a Dream

Last year, we were celebrating our wedding anniversary — just the two of us, far from home, in the quiet hills of Norway.
Somewhere between the stillness and the memories, one of us said:
“What if we had a small family guesthouse — a place where people could not only rest but truly heal?”

It wasn’t just a dream.
It was a longing to create something meaningful.
A space that restores.

Soon after, we invited three Ukrainian women to stay with us — simply to rest.
We cooked meals, walked together, listened to their stories.
And with each conversation, it became clear: this house was becoming something more.
They had arrived tired, broken — and left changed.
That was a sign.

We are Oleksii and Svitlana — a Ukrainian couple who fled war, carrying one son in our arms and another in the womb.
Today, we are the parents of two beautiful boys: Tymofii and Myroslav.

Norway became our refuge.
And also the place where MRIYA was born.

MRIYA is not a hotel — not yet.
It is a beginning.
A small, meaningful step.

That step became a 7-day recovery retreat for Ukrainian women who have lived through war and loss —
“Light on the Shore.”

A gentle rhythm of presence, silence, nature, and shared life.
A space where nothing needs to be “fixed.”
Just be. And be seen.

We are not alone.
We are grateful for the team of hearts and hands who walk with us:

• MRIYA (Norway) – hosts the retreats and coordinates local support

• VIRA NOVA (Ukraine) – manages participant selection and guidance

• Church “Love of Christ” (Ukraine, Kyiv) – offers prayer and spiritual care
  
  

Different roles, one united purpose.

As a family, we still dream of the guesthouse.
Our small social business.
But for now — we build what we can.
Because we feel called to give, just as we were given so much by the people of Norway.

MRIYA is a place where pain becomes grace — and dreams become real.