“At the very moment when we needed it most, help came to us,” — Maryna from Novodonetske
The mobile psychosocial support team of the NGO “Responsible Citizens” first visited Maryna’s family in the autumn. Such teams continue to support families with children in remote and frontline settlements, where there is often no access to essential services. During another visit to Novodonetske, our team met Maryna’s warm and friendly family.
“My older son Nikita is already 17, and the younger one, Artem, is 9. He is in the fourth grade and has been studying online for all four years. That means he has never once sat at a school desk or had the opportunity to attend classes together with his peers,” Maryna says. Until 2023, she worked at the local cultural center, but due to the security situation all institutions stopped operating. The last few months in Novodonetske have been especially tense.
“It became really hard, to be honest. Shelling became more frequent. I saw that it was getting harder and harder for the children. Friends began to leave, and earlier the younger one used to attend a football club, but now even that is gone. So he communicates with his peers only through a laptop. It worried me a lot! That is why help was truly necessary for us, and we are very glad that we met your team’s specialists. They immediately found an approach to the children, established contact, and selected activities. What can I say — now the younger son constantly asks when the girls will come again,” Maryna shares.
From the mobile team, the family from Novodonetske received comprehensive support. A psychologist conducted an assessment of the children’s condition in a play-based format, organized special stress-relief sessions to reduce psychological strain, and provided the parents with practical tools to improve their own well-being and support their children. In addition, Maryna’s family received the necessary assistance to prepare for winter. They have already used two vouchers for new children’s clothing.
“Honestly, for us it is like a breath of fresh air in this whole situation. We are very grateful for such support, because we truly felt how professionally the specialists approached our story and helped us exactly when it was most needed,” Maryna says.
The work is carried out within the framework of the UNICEF Ukraine project “Strengthening Community Capacity to Deliver Essential Protection and Resilience Services in Kharkiv, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions,” implemented by the NGO “Responsible Citizens” with the support of the Government of the United States of America.
Більше новин
-
NGO “Responsible Citizens” became the winner in the nomination “Light of Knowledge: Charity in the Name of the Future” at the forum “Donetsk Region 2025: A Look into the Future.”The forum became an important platform for strengthening dialogue between the state, local authorities, and the civic sector.
-
How we work in frontline communities of the Donetsk RegionSpeech therapy sessions, psychological consultations, and social worker support continue to be provided in the frontline communities of the Donetsk region. Since th...
-
Social Services for Children and Families During the War: Training for Communities Held in Zaporizhzhia OblastThe event was held within the framework of the UNICEF project “Protection Services for the Most Vulnerable Children and Parents (or Their Caregivers) in Communities of Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts”, implemented by Responsible Citizens NGO with the financial support of the United States Government and UNICEF.
-
How the mobile team helped a family from Sloviansk overcome the crisis and find supportThe year 2022 became a year of trials for a family from Sloviansk. The decision to move to the Odesa region to protect their children from danger was not an easy one, but it was necessary. Later, when it became relatively safe in their hometown, the family returned home, despite all the challenges of living in a frontline region.
-
BRIDGE 2.0: Strengthening Partnerships for SafetyAll projects of Responsible Citizens NGO focus on supporting people living near the front line, and participation in such events helps strengthen our work and ensure more systematic and coordinated assistance to communities.
-
300 children from Donetsk region to receive backpacks for schoolNearly 300 children in the Donetsk region will receive useful backpacks that will assist them not only in their studies but also in everyday life! This support has ...
-
Education in emergencies: experience shaping the futureThe coordinator of educational projects at the NGO "Responsible Citizens," Olena Bielolipetseva, participated in a three-day training session on "Education in Emergencies" held in Kyiv.
-
A Partnership That Ensures the Sustainability of Humanitarian AssistanceThroughout 2025, the cooperation between the NGO “Responsible Citizens” and Nova Poshta Humanitarian became an important component in delivering aid to frontline communities.