Growing despite barriers: Polina and the team by her side

Polina used to rarely leave the house, avoided communication, and almost never took initiative. Due to a visual impairment, she studied remotely, her social interaction was limited, and her emotional state was unstable.
The situation began to change when her family received support through the case management program of the NGO Responsible Citizens.

Polina’s mother, Natalia, is raising her daughter on her own and works at a mine in the town of Novodonetske. Under constant pressure and lacking information about her daughter’s developmental needs, it was difficult for her to build effective communication with the child.

Everything changed in the Child-Friendly Space, where Polina began working with a special education teacher, Liubov — and this became a turning point.
“At the beginning, Polina didn’t follow instructions, didn’t finish tasks, and avoided contact. Gradually, we built a stable correctional plan: exercises to train visual concentration, movement and sensory practices, and modeling social interaction. We added music and dance elements. That made a difference — now she initiates meetings on her own, joins group games, and asks questions,” explains Liubov, a specialist from Responsible Citizens.

Sessions are held twice a week. The work is comprehensive: specialists focus on developing visual skills, speech, emotional regulation, and everyday abilities. Polina has even discovered a new hobby — 3D drawing, which helps her improve coordination and supports self-expression.

At the same time, the team works with Natalia. The mother has received individual consultations, practical tools for communication with her child, visual exercise routines, and advice on establishing daily structure.

“The work continues. The Responsible Citizens team provides long-term support — we monitor progress, adjust the corrective path, and focus on unlocking the child’s potential, not just overcoming limitations,” the specialist adds.

The family also received a clothing certificate — a form of material support that was timely and crucial under difficult household conditions.

Polina has changed. But the most important thing is that she now believes in herself. And right beside her is a team that helps this belief grow every day.

Support is provided as part of the project “Strengthening the Capacity of Communities to Provide Key Protection and Resilience Services in Kharkiv, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia Regions,” implemented by Responsible Citizens with the support of UNICEF Ukraine.