The town of Pokrovske, located 40 km from Donetsk, is in the zone of active hostilities. Constant shelling and the destruction of infrastructure make living conditions very difficult. Much of the town's infrastructure has been destroyed, leading to water, electricity, and heating supply interruptions. Despite this, many residents remain in the town, facing daily risks.
During the visit to Pokrovske, the mobile team of the NGO Girls attended the local employment centre. Employees of the centre told them about Alla, a mother of two who, together with her sister, also takes care of her elderly mother. The same day, the mobile team visited Alla's family. Their house was in critical condition: old and damaged, it seemed uninhabitable. The windows were covered with plastic sheeting, the cold penetrated everywhere at night, and the prospects for improving the situation seemed unattainable.
Alla spent a year trying to get the status of a low-income family and is now registered at the employment centre, trying to find a stable job. Her seasonal income from greenhouses provided for the family only temporarily. Due to the lack of a stable job and the necessity to meet the needs of her children and her sick mother, she could not afford a full repair of the house.
Later, Alla admitted, “At first I did not believe in humanitarian aid. I let the people from the mobile team in and let them do the needed measurements, but I had no hope. We were preparing for the autumn with anxiety, no longer hoping for help.”
The case manager shares, “Alla remained resilient despite all the challenges. Her words reflected the scepticism that often arises in people exhausted by the constant struggle for survival. But her distrust did not stop us from helping her. As part of the case management programme, we applied for financial assistance to replace the windows.”
According to the specialist of the NGO Girls, helping the family required immediate action, namely the urgent order and installation of five windows. Now the family's house is warmer and psychologically safer. Thanks to the new double-glazed windows, Alla no longer has to heat the house every day, she only needs to light the stove every 2-3 days. This has significantly reduced heating costs, which is a real relief for Alla and her family. In addition to replacing the windows, the specialists of the NGO Girls continue to support the family. Alla received legal advice in resolving the issue of her eldest son's registration. Currently, the organisation's lawyers are helping the woman to obtain the status of a low-income family, which is an important step towards a more stable future. The family also received a hygiene kit.
Alla is sincerely grateful that she was not left to face her difficulties alone, “Thanks to your assistance, we will have a warm winter. It is such a help for us! Thanks to everyone who helped! I pray for you, be blessed.”
The assistance Alla received was not only a practical solution to her immediate problems but also a source of emotional support.
The assistance to Alla's family was provided within the framework of the project "Vital, gender-sensitive and inclusive SRH and GBV assistance for conflict-affected people of all genders in Ukraine and Poland" in collaboration with the international humanitarian organization CARE, with the support of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany.
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