When war takes away stability, the community provides support: stories from Donetsk region
Every child has the right to safety, development, and support. During war, these rights become even more vulnerable — that is why we work alongside families every day to ensure that assistance is available where it is needed most.
Today we are sharing two stories from the Donetsk region. They are different, but they have something in common: a child who needs care, and adults who do everything they can to protect that child’s rights.
In the first photo is Alisa. She is sitting next to an art therapist: smiling, focused, a little anxious — but no longer as quiet as she was a few months ago.
She is five. Relocation, a new city, and the invisible burden of war have left their mark.
The family turned to our Child-Friendly Space because Alisa barely spoke and needed support from a speech therapist.
Gradually, through art-therapy games, individual sessions, and the work of a psychologist, she began to open up.
Today Alisa laughs with other children, tries new sounds, and feels more confident.
Her mother also received psychological support — to have the strength to be a source of stability.
The family received clothing vouchers and winter assistance — all part of our daily work to ensure that a child’s right to development and health remains protected.
“We saw her blossom. A bit of attention and care — and the child believes in herself again,” says Alisa’s mother.
The next photo shows a different story. Two sisters, Larysa and Nadiia, and four children. Their peaceful daily life ended in 2022, when they left Novoukrainka. In 2024 they had to set out on the road again.
The children are growing up in a reality where home changes more often than the toys in their backpacks. And each time, the adults try to create at least a little stability.
In the new community, the family received comprehensive support: psychological consultations, guidance on the children’s mental health, information about programs for internally displaced persons, and help with registering for financial assistance.
Thanks to this, the family received winter assistance from UNICEF Ukraine and clothing vouchers for the children.
This support helps ensure the child’s right to adequate living conditions and protection — even during war.
“The main thing is not to give up and to support each other,” says Nadiia.
We share these stories because behind each one are real children, real families, and daily steps toward recovery.
Більше новин
-
How Residents of Frontline Communities Assess their Readiness for a Possible EscalationOur team conducted anonymous surveys on social media to better understand how prepared people from communities near the front line are for a potential escalation. More than 720 people took part. According to the survey results, 67% of respondents said they do not have the financial means to rent housing in case of evacuation.
-
St. Nicholas Day in safe spaces: warmth, creativity, and support for familiesIf it’s a holiday, it’s only in child-friendly spaces! Festive events dedicated to St. Nicholas Day took place in Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipropetrovsk regions!...
-
“People Must Be at the Center of Recovery”: Enrique Menendez on New Approaches to Supporting CommunitiesThe Director of Projects and Programs of the NGO Responsible Citizens took part in the event “United for Recovery: A Resilient Civil Society — a Strong Ukraine” held in Lviv and organized by our partners from Mercy Corps.
-
Help on the frontlines: what has been done to support those most affectedThe NGO Responsible Citizens, together with our partners organized the implementation of a project to provide financial assistance to those most affected by the war.
-
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...
-
Youth movement of Donetsk region: a strategic session for regional recoveryA member of the Regional Youth Council from the NGO "Responsible Citizens" took part in the strategic session of the Youth Council under the Donetsk Regional State Administration.
-
Sent over 320 kg of Humanitarian Aid to the Kharkiv RegionThe team at NGO “Responsible Citizens” continues to support those affected by the war, providing essential humanitarian aid. Thanks to the Nova Poshta Humanitarian ...
-
Responsible Citizens became partners in the charity fair “On the Road of Childhood” in ZaporizhzhiaThis event is a series of celebrations for children from occupied and frontline territories who live in the Zaporizhzhia region.