Rediscovering herself: Yana’s journey from Nikopol to a new beginning through education
Yana Vodyanchuk is a hairdresser from Nikopol who, like thousands of Ukrainians, lost her livelihood due to the war. After multiple relocations and the loss of her primary income, she found herself in a state of uncertainty. But giving up wasn’t an option. “It was tough, especially after moving. But sitting still and doing nothing isn’t for me,” says Yana.
When she was offered free vocational training in her new community, she saw it as a lifeline. She quickly mastered new haircutting techniques, found inspiration in her instructor, and started to regain confidence. Today, Yana is not just working — she is growing, helping others, and standing firmly on her own two feet.
The educational program that helped Yana was made possible by the NGO Responsible Citizens, which for over a year and a half has been implementing short but practical training courses across communities in Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia regions — giving displaced people a fresh start and a new professional path.
📍 Dnipropetrovsk region, Nikopol
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Together for the Children: Unity, support, hopeSince last year, the NGO "Responsible Citizens" has been working alongside the NGO "Dobrodiya" to organize joint activities, ensuring that every child in Zaporizhzhia has a safe space for creativity, psychological support, and communication.
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Operational aid for those affected in Yarova: 23 households received supportThe project is implemented by the "Responsible Citizens" NGO in partnership with Mercy Corps and with the financial support of the Government of the United Kingdom.
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NGO “Responsible Citizens” joined the development of the regional child protection strategyA meeting of experts took place in Kharkiv to discuss and plan the Strategy for Ensuring Every Child’s Right to Grow Up in a Family Environment for 2025–2028.
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“In all the years of war, this is the first time I’ve received assistance,” shared 63-year-old Natalia Mykolaivna from Kehychivka in the Kharkiv regionWhen the full-scale invasion began, Natalia and her family made the decision to stay home. Besides the difficulty of leaving their home, where they had lived their ...
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“Children are regaining their motivation to learn,” says a history teacher from Kryvyi RihIn September, catch-up classes were launched in communities in the Dnipropetrovsk region to help students recover from learning losses.
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Partnership That Works: Responsible Citizens Systematically Builds Cooperation with CommunitiesFor the NGO Responsible Citizens, work in a community does not begin with a single event and does not end once a project has been completed. We build a long-term presence and working partnerships at the local level — with communities, government authorities at all levels, educational institutions, social services, and cultural and youth organizations.
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NGO “Responsible Citizens” participates in HORIZONTAL 5.0 Festival “Women’s Voice: From Idea to Action”Participants gathered to discuss current social challenges, strengthen cooperation, and define ways to effectively support women in crisis conditions.
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September 1 marks the launch of a new project by Responsible Citizens NGO in collaboration with the Government of the Faroe IslandsThe new initiative aims to address educational losses among students in eastern Ukraine who have been unable to fully engage with their curricula.