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 understood the need to leave for the safety of the children,” recalls Ivanna.

Ivanna, mother of two daughters—10-year-old Milana and 2-year-old Nadiika—was forced to leave her native Myrnohrad with her family due to daily shelling. In March 2024, they moved to the safer Novodonetsk community.

The relocation was a challenging ordeal.

“We lost everything that was familiar and dear to us. But what worried me most was the children—how they would cope with this stress,” shares the mother.

At the beginning of their move, Milana was withdrawn and afraid to interact with other children. A psychologist from the mobile team of the NGO “Responsible Citizens,” which worked with the family, quickly realized that she needed deeper psychological support.

Initially, Milana found solace in a child-friendly space that helped her adapt to the new community.

“My daughter hurried to classes every day. This place was an island of calm and joy for her,” says Ivanna.

However, due to the worsening security situation, group activities in the space were suspended. “It was a tough moment for us, but fortunately, we continued to receive individual consultations with the psychologist, which helped both Milana and me a lot,” she adds.

Specialists from the mobile team regularly worked with the family, providing psychosocial support and assistance in resolving everyday issues. The family received vouchers for purchasing clothing for the children, and Ivanna was advised on social benefits for internally displaced persons.

The team psychologist organized art therapy sessions for the entire family, which contributed to improving their emotional state.

“Thanks to these meetings, we learned to listen to each other, and the children were able to overcome their fears. We received genuine comprehensive support. Without the project’s specialists, we wouldn’t have coped,” concludes Ivanna, emphasizing the importance of this work for families facing difficulties during the war.

In July 2024, the family once again faced a difficult choice—due to new shelling, they had to leave Novodonetsk and move to Poltava. Despite the ongoing challenges, Ivanna feels confident: “Now I know we are not alone. There are those nearby who will help and support us.”

Assistance was provided within the framework of the project “Provision of Psychosocial Support, Protection, and Education Services for Families with Children in Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kharkiv Regions,” implemented by the NGO “Responsible Citizens” with funding from the UNICEF in Ukraine.