MROJA is an initiative to create a Belarusian eco-homestead in Podlasie – a place where Belarusians in exile can rest, reconnect, and feel at home. The team is seeking support to build a large outdoor pavilion for visitors while the main construction is still underway, so that people can start coming to the homestead already this season.
My name is Sergey Gun. Together with my partner, Natasha, we created the MROJA initiative, and we are asking for your support.
I am a former political prisoner, and after being forced into exile, I understand that I have no idea when I will be able to return home to Belarus. Many of us are living in exile, missing our homeland and the places that once meant so much to us.
My previous life revolved around music and cultural events. Later, I became passionate about the idea of building an eco-village and learned how to construct and install traditional bathhouses. But then I was imprisoned, and that dream had to be put on hold. The hardships of exile, the impossibility of returning to Belarus, and meeting Natasha inspired me to pursue that dream once again.
Together, we decided to build our own little “Belarus” in Podlasie – a place where people can come, even for a short while, and feel at home. After everything our lives have been through, we wanted to create a space where we – and other Belarusians – could relax, regain a sense of peace, warmth, and belonging.
Not far from the Belarusian border, in the forests of Podlasie, we bought an old homestead. Our goal is to transform it into a place for Belarusians – a place where people can come to catch their breath, be surrounded by those who understand them, and recover from political persecution, prison, exile, war, the loss of home, and the constant strain of recent years.
We dream of building small guest cabins, a space for gatherings, retreats and cultural events, a traditional bathhouse, a workshop, and a large outdoor pavilion.
We see this eco-homestead as a place of strength and renewal for Belarusians. To make the project financially sustainable in the future, some of the guest cabins will be rented to visitors and tourists, while former political prisoners and volunteer fighters will be able to stay here free of charge.
The project is already underway. We are doing most of the work ourselves and have invested all of our personal savings, time, and effort into the homestead. But we cannot continue without financial support.
While the warm season lasts, we want to complete as much of the construction as possible. At the same time, we want people to be able to visit already this summer. That is why our first priority is to build a large outdoor pavilion where guests can spend the day while the rest of the eco-homestead is still under construction.
If the idea behind MROJA resonates with you, you can help us build our little “Belarus” – a place where every Belarusian can feel at home.
Thank you to everyone who chooses to support our project. ❤️
Fundraising goal
€5000