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
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Evacuation, Care, New Beginnings: A Donetsk Family Builds a Future with NGO SupportIn the spring of 2025, they became participants in the program "Local, Inclusive, and Comprehensive Emergency Assistance to the Population Affected by the War in Ukraine," implemented by the NGO "Responsible Citizens" in partnership with Mercy Corps and with financial support from the UK Government.
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“I was born during a war and lived to see another one”Nina Pavlovna lives in a settlement in the Pokrovsk district of Donetsk region, a few kilometers from the front line. She lives alone, without family. Her only support is a former student who told her about a multi-purpose cash assistance program implemented by the NGO "Responsible Citizens" with support from Mercy Corps and funding from the UK government.
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A working meeting between the UNICEF team and the NGO “Responsible Citizens” took place in KramatorskDuring the visit, the Head of the UNICEF Ukraine Office, Munir Mammadzade, together with colleagues, visited a Child-Friendly Space implemented within the framework of a joint project with UNICEF, where they met with specialists of mobile teams.
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Alla Maslakhova, Project Coordinator of NGO “Responsible Citizens,” in a Special Edition of the “SPIU PodcastWhat does responsibility look like in practice? What are the current trends in the civic sector? How do we provide support in frontline areas, what lessons have we ...
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Responsible Citizens Took Part in the Final Roundtable of the LIVES ProgrammeWithin the framework of the LIVES programme, our team implemented humanitarian initiatives in frontline communities in eastern Ukraine. The activities covered settlements located near the line of contact, as well as transit centres where people received assistance immediately after evacuation from dangerous areas.
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Together to overcome the consequences of war: the story of one family from Myrnohrad“We always kept things ready for evacuation, but making the decision was incredibly difficult. My heart couldn’t let go of our home, even when my mind u...
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“I will gain experience and open a family-type children’s home. This is my dream,” says Ivan, a social worker from Kryvyi Rih.Ivan's story is about how small actions grow into big dreams. As a schoolboy, he helped displaced people from Donetsk and Luhansk regions—collecting sweet gifts for children, writing motivational notes, and joining volunteer initiatives. Back then, he had no idea that this help would be the beginning of a long journey.
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How training becomes the start of change: the story of Iryna from Dnipropetrovsk regionIryna from Kryvyi Rih has been connected to art her entire life. Teaching painting and helping people through creativity is her true calling. For over 30 years, she has been teaching others to see the world through colors, lines, and images. Today, she works at a music school in her hometown, but more and more often, she feels the need to grow, move forward, and discover new opportunities.