Olena (name changed for safety reasons) and her daughter endured a long and painful experience of domestic violence. For many years, she lived with a husband who misused psychoactive substances and displayed aggressive behaviour.
One day, Olena made the decision to leave her abuser: she packed her belongings and sought assistance from a specialised partner organisation working with women and children affected by violence. With the support of specialists, she was able to relocate to a safe place and receive shelter.
At the shelter, Olena felt safe for the first time in a long while. She met other women with similar experiences and realised that she was not alone.
Specialists from NGO Girls visited the shelter and offered Olena comprehensive support. Together with a case manager, they developed an individual action plan, identified goals, and outlined steps that would help her regain control over her life. Olena and her daughter were referred to psychologists from NGO Girls to receive individual psychological support. This helped stabilise her emotional state and find internal resources for recovery. In addition to psychological assistance, Olena received a dignity kit — a set of personal hygiene items and basic necessities.
Thanks to her own perseverance and the consistent support of specialists, Olena found employment in the cleaning sector, which became an important step toward financial independence.
“Today, Olena is a different woman. She has become more balanced and confident in her abilities. Her story is an example of how self-belief, courage, and timely support can help a person regain control over their life,” notes the case manager.
Assistance is provided 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.
