“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
-
Developing partnerships to support families with children“Responsible Citizens” NGO is launching cooperation with the Zmiiv community in Kharkiv region to strengthen assistance for families facing difficult life circumstances — both local residents and internally displaced families.
-
Resilience Center in Zaporizhzhia: over 1,600 requests in six months of operationThe Resilience Center was opened with the support of UNICEF and funding from the Government of Germany through the development bank KfW. The Center was established in cooperation with local authorities and social services of the Department of Social Protection of the Zaporizhzhia City Council, and implemented by the NGO “Responsible Citizens.”
-
Crucial support: stories of people who received assistance during the warAs part of the multipurpose cash assistance project, the NGO “Responsible Citizens,” together with partners, has helped hundreds of people affected by t...
-
Unified Support Standards: Our Team’s Participation in the MHPSS Development TrainingThe team of the NGO “Responsible Citizens” joined a training organized by UNICEF Ukraine and aimed at strengthening organizations working in the field of psychosocial support for children and families.
-
Helping safely: a new level of humanitarian responsibilityGenuine motivation is only the first step. Real responsibility begins with understanding how to provide assistance in a way that is safe — for children, for families, and for everyone involved This was the focus of the Safeguarding training attended by representatives of Responsible Citizens NGO, supported by UNICEF Ukraine.
-
115 kg of Humanitarian Aid for Children in Lozova, Kharkiv RegionNGO Responsible Citizens, together with Humanitarian Nova Poshta, delivered humanitarian aid to the Transit Center in Lozova, Kharkiv region. The aid consisted of kits for psychological support and child development for children forced to leave their homes.
-
A Meeting of UNICEF Partner Organizations Held in KharkivThe NGO “Responsible Citizens,” as a partner of the UNICEF Representation in Ukraine, was invited to participate in a special event at the Yermilov Cent...
-
Play, Support, Care: How Child-Friendly Spaces Strengthen the Mental Health of Children and ParentsPsychosocial support is provided as part of UNICEF’s project “Strengthening Community Capacity to Provide Core Protection and Resilience Services in Kharkiv, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia Regions,” implemented by Responsible Citizens NGO with support from the Government of the United States of America.