When Natalia arrived in the western Ukrainian region of Volyn with her two daughters after fleeing the Donetsk region, the family had little more than the essentials. They also carried fear, exhaustion, and the uncertainty surrounding the fate of Natalia's husband, who has been missing since June 2023 after serving near Bakhmut.
The evacuation from the frontline and the constant worry about her husband had left Natalia and her daughters deeply traumatised. Even after arriving in Kovel, they struggled to feel safe. Afraid of misunderstanding and prejudice, they rarely left their accommodation and avoided contact with other people.
The impact on the two girls was especially severe. Eleven-year-old Veronika experienced intense anxiety and began pulling out her eyelashes. Her seven-year-old sister, Vladyslava, had fallen far behind in her education after long interruptions to her schooling. She could not read, write, or do basic maths, struggled with speech, and found it almost impossible to be separated from her mother.
In April 2026, the family joined Care in Action's support programme. Rather than focusing on a single challenge, the programme combined educational support, therapeutic care, practical assistance, and support for Natalia herself.
Vladyslava received individual tutoring three times a week, together with regular speech therapy. Within just a few weeks, she began making remarkable progress. She learned to read her first words by sounding out syllables, started working with numbers, and became increasingly confident in her writing.
At the same time, Natalia and Veronika attended individual counselling sessions with a psychologist specialising in crisis intervention and trauma. These sessions gave them a safe space to begin processing their fears, experiences of loss, and the ongoing uncertainty they faced. Natalia also joined support groups and psychological training sessions, where she experienced a sense of community, safety, and renewed hope for the first time in a long while.
The family also received practical support for their new home, including bed linen, kitchenware, and a microwave.
The progress became especially clear during a family event in Rokyni. Although Natalia was initially anxious, Vladyslava gradually separated from her mother, approached other children on her own, and spent the entire day playing with them.
The next step is already in place. Both girls have been enrolled in a school in Kovel and will begin attending regular in-person classes from September. This will give them not only access to education, but also the opportunity to build friendships and become part of their new community.
Natalia's family shows what becomes possible when psychological care, educational support, social support, and practical assistance work hand in hand. Fear gradually gives way to trust. Isolation becomes community. And a daily life once defined by loss and uncertainty begins to make room for hope and plans for the future.
This project, and the support provided to families like Natalia's, is made possible through donations from Germany. The family continues to live in Ukraine, having been evacuated from the frontline Donetsk region to Kovel in the west of the country. This support helps internally displaced children and their families in Volyn access therapeutic care, educational opportunities, and practical assistance as they rebuild their lives.
Learn more: for information about the project, its achievements so far, and other families receiving support, read our project update Safe Families in Volyn.
Ви можете підтримати дитину в Україні або Малаві та змінити її життя на краще, роблячи щомісячний внесок у розмірі 30 €. Така підтримка допомагає дітям із сімей у складних життєвих обставинах отримати можливості для розвитку та навчання, сформувати довіру до дорослого світу та відкрити двері до самостійності.
У цей непростий час дедалі більше дітей потребують надійної, регулярної допомоги, щоб мати доступ до освіти та задовольняти свої базові потреби.
