Evacuation, Care, New Beginnings: A Donetsk Family Builds a Future with NGO Support

The 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.

At a critical moment, a family from Donetsk region made a difficult but necessary decision — to evacuate. This coincided with the opportunity to join the program “Local, inclusive and multi-sectoral emergency assistance for war-affected populations in Ukraine,” implemented by NGO Responsible Citizens in partnership with Mercy Corps and with funding from the UK Government.

The team of NGO “Responsible Citizens” participated in an event organized by Mercy Corps within the LIVES 3.0 program, supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

This day is an opportunity to thank those who support people in difficult life circumstances every single day. Social workers step in when all other resources are exhausted — when a person has lost their home, loved ones, job, or sense of safety.

In 2025, communities in Donetsk Region continued to live and work under conditions of constant danger and high psychological pressure. In this reality, Child-Friendly Spaces and mobile psychosocial support teams became important hubs of stability, helping children and adults cope with stress, trauma, and uncertainty.

Olena Bieloliptseva, Coordinator of Education Projects at the NGO Responsible Citizens, has joined the Thematic Working Group on Education in Emergencies (EiE). The...

This is a day dedicated to people who help children find their voice — in the most literal sense. Our speech therapists do more than teach children how to articulate sounds. They help them gain confidence, build communication skills, and freely express their thoughts and emotions.

Since the beginning of autumn, our mobile teams of psychologists and facilitators have been visiting communities where people live under constant stress caused by the war and often have no access to professional support. This became possible thanks to the project implemented by the NGO “Responsible Citizens” in partnership with JERU – Joint Emergency Response in Ukraine, a joint initiative of Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide — with financial support from the German Federal Foreign Office.