When the case manager of the NGO “Divchata” (“Girls”) met Maryna for the first time, she saw a very young girl with an indifferent, tired face. Next to her was a stroller with a two-year-old girl. The woman looked tense and kept looking at her watch, which seemed like a sign of hostility at first. But later it turned out that deep pain and fatigue hid behind this outward detachment.
Maryna is a survivor of CRSV. She was subjected to psychological and sexual violence while leaving the temporarily occupied territory. At that time, Maryna was pregnant. Due to severe stress, she gave birth to her second daughter, Mariia, with hypotonia. Her older daughter Olesia is a child with autism spectrum disorders. Both of Maryna's daughters need constant attention and rehabilitation, so each has her own busy schedule of classes: a speech therapist, a rehabilitation therapist, developmental classes, massages, etc. Maryna organizes all this on her own, without the support of her family or partner. At the age of 26, the woman was a widow, left alone with two children with health problems, without housing, financial stability, and support.
“After learning the details of Maryna's story, I decided that I would do everything in my power to help this young woman smile again, enjoy life, and be happy,” the case manager said.
From the first days of their meeting, the team of the NGO “Divchata” began to act comprehensively to not only meet the family's primary needs for safety and stability, but also to help Maryna overcome the crisis and feel supported and empowered.
First, Maryna received psychological support. The woman was in a state of emotional exhaustion, so it was necessary to restore her internal resources. Maryna and her children took part in the “Workshop of Inspiration” activities, where they made felt toys, cooked, and created art. These activities brought joy and peace to the girls and their mother.
Through the case manager’s referrals to organizations that provide comprehensive assistance to children, Mariia and Olesia received backpacks with stationery and creative kits. The girls also attended individual sessions with a trauma therapist in a sensory room, which had a positive result.
In addition, thanks to another referral to partner organizations, Maryna received a washing vacuum cleaner, which greatly facilitated her daily life. The family also received targeted financial assistance for rehabilitation classes for both daughters.
The most important thing was that within the framework of the project “Strengthening Access and Service Provision for SRH Support and GBV Prevention among Conflict-Affected Women and Girls in Eastern and Southern Ukraine” in cooperation with the international humanitarian organization CARE, with the support of the German Federal Foreign Office, the NGO “Divchata” helped Maryna with financial support for the rent of an apartment located in a convenient area, close to all necessary medical and educational centers. The family was provided with an amount enough to cover eight months’ rent. This allowed Maryna to reallocate her budget, save money, and spend it on additional medical procedures and classes for her children.
“The NGO “Divchata” became a shoulder for me to lean on and get through the hardest times, find my feet, and taste life again. Now I live, not merely survive," Maryna says.
Today, she smiles again. Thanks to the support, the young woman who used to live in the shadow of pain and loss was able to throw her shoulders back, and believe in the future. Maryna is no longer alone, because she has a community nearby that gives her strength to live, raise her children, and dream again. Although the road was not easy, today she is an example of how support, care, and faith can change fate.
