Oksana (name changed for ethical reasons) is a 40-year-old woman who found herself in extremely difficult life circumstances due to prolonged violence by her partner and his mother. After another incident, the man took Oksana to a bus station and left her there without money, documents, or any support.
She reached a regional center, where she was forced to live on the street for a week. During this time, her phone was stolen, which completely deprived her of the possibility to contact her children or seek help. Oksana was 140 kilometers away from home, without resources or support, experiencing intense anxiety, fear, and helplessness.
As a first step, Oksana sought assistance from a social adaptation center for people experiencing homelessness, from where she was referred to a crisis response room. There, she received temporary safe accommodation for 10 days. She also learned about the opportunity to receive support from NGO Girls and reached out for help. At that point, Oksana began working with a case manager, during which a set of comprehensive measures was implemented to stabilize her condition and restore her safety and independence.
Oksana underwent a medical examination and received psychological support. Inter-institutional cooperation was also established to address her basic needs. Through the involvement of partner resources, she received cash assistance to cover housing rent, which helped prevent her from returning to life on the street and allowed her to begin searching for long-term housing.
An important stage of the support process was the restoration of social connections. With the assistance of the case manager, Oksana re-established contact with her parents, with whom she had not communicated for many years, and also learned the whereabouts of her children, with whom communication had previously been lost.
Oksana registered with an employment center in line with her medical specialization and began searching for a job to restore her financial stability. She was also referred to the relevant authorities to regularize her military registration status.
“The support I received gave me back a sense of calm and the belief that I can start over. I am no longer alone,” Oksana shares.
A situation that once seemed hopeless has gradually stabilized. Currently, Oksana is living in safe conditions, receiving comprehensive support, and regaining control over her life. She is actively involved in planning her next steps, working toward restoring her autonomy, and preparing for employment.
This project was funded with UK aid from the UK Government and is implemented by NGO Girls within the National PULSE Consortium, coordinated by Right to Protection. UK Government support to this project in Ukraine is provided through the SHARP element of its Humanitarian Assistance, Recovery and Protection Programme.
Photo: Freepik.
