Hanna's story is not easy, but it shows that no matter how dark it is, light will always find its way. Before the full-scale war, Hanna lived in Melitopol, which was occupied. Hanna was taken captive twice, where she suffered sexual, physical, and psychological violence. After her release, she was deported from the occupied territory to Zaporizhzhia, but circumstances forced her to relive her experiences over and over again. The woman repeatedly had to undergo standard filtration procedures conducted by the Security Service of Ukraine, which turned out to be extremely traumatic and created additional psychological pressure.
After returning from captivity, she lost the support of her husband. His aggressive and abusive behavior, caused by prejudice against the violence she had experienced, led to the final breakup of their relationship. Hanna was left alone with two children and no means of subsistence. The house of her ex-husband's relatives became a temporary shelter, but this place was not completely safe, because the woman was blackmailed and threatened with eviction.
Even though she had worked as a hairdresser before the full-scale war, she could not return to her profession. Her tools remained in the occupied territory, and the new ones were too expensive to buy. To get some income, Hanna got a job as a cleaner, as she could not leave her children, who were studying remotely, and work full time. In addition, due to her Zaporizhzhia residence permit, she faced difficulties obtaining IDP status. She was denied at the Administrative Service Centre and advised to go to court.
Hanna turned to the NGO Girls in a state of almost complete moral, physical, and material exhaustion. Her story impressed the case manager, who, after an initial consultation, developed a step-by-step action plan to help the woman and her children.
First, it was important to stabilize Hanna's psychological state. Due to the severe consequences of sexual violence, she was immediately referred to a psychologist specializing in such experiences. Regular sessions gave the first positive results: the woman began to regain her inner resources, opened up to communication with others, and regained the ability to laugh and joke.
“When I saw Hanna for the first time, she was exhausted, hunched over, wearing dark clothes, and silent. There was emptiness in her eyes. Today she wears bright clothes and makeup. She smiles, jokes, laughs, and shares her dreams. She is coming back to life,” the case manager describes.
The specialist also contacted a number of human rights organizations, and one of them agreed to accompany Hanna to court to obtain IDP status. At the same time, the woman's children were engaged in the programs of an organization that helps families with minors. They received school supplies, vitamins necessary to improve their health, and the opportunity to attend art therapy classes, clubs, and workshops.
Thanks to financial assistance from the NGO Girls and the project “Strengthening access and service provision for SRH and GBV support among conflict-affected women and girls in eastern and southern Ukraine” in collaboration with the international humanitarian organization CARE, with the support of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany, Hanna was able to rent an apartment near the beauty salon where she works part-time, having paid for three months at once. The family received a new microwave, an iron, and vouchers for seasonal clothing and hygiene products. In cooperation with another organization, they managed to get funding to purchase professional hairdressing tools. Hanna was also given the opportunity to attend free barber courses. After completing her training, she will be able to officially work in her specialty.
Today, Hanna is ready to share her story with us. “I went through darkness, but I did not stay in it. Thanks to those who believed in me, I believe in myself again.”
