Mobile support in action: The story of a new psychologist in our team

For our team, it’s a great responsibility when people come to us for their first professional experience. Especially when it’s a conscious decision to change careers and choose helping others as their new profession.

“I’m working for the first time in a humanitarian organization and for the first time in my new profession. It’s truly an invaluable experience and opportunity. Of course, there are certain challenges and trials, but every day I’m convinced of the boundless capacity of people to overcome difficulties. And sometimes, all it takes is genuine and professional support from someone who’s there at the right moment,” Tetiana shares.

She says she has already had her first profound experiences in practical work. “It happened just a few days ago when I received a simple SMS on my phone from a woman I was working with: ‘Tania, thank you for your support! My son is alive, and I’ve just heard from him at the hospital.’ This woman had been waiting for contact with her child for 74 long days, and during the final weeks, we were there to help her cope with her emotions,” Tetiana recounts.

Tetiana’s sense of responsibility and ability to handle life’s difficulties were shaped not only by her work as a nurse. She also comes from a large family with five children. Her father is a tractor driver, her mother worked on a farm, and the family faced many tough moments. But, as Tetiana says, she is immensely grateful for the strength of character her upbringing instilled and is proud that all her siblings received a decent education, work, and have the ability to help others.

Tetiana works in the psychosocial support project implemented by the NGO “Responsible Citizens” in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and with financial support from USAID.