Elevating Ukraine’s Frontline of Care: Anna’s Journey to Clinical Precision

In the quiet corridors of a specialised orphanage in Dnipro, the rhythmic hum of wheelchairs serves as a constant reminder of the vulnerability of the people here. Children living with cerebral palsy and other complex disabilities rely on a fragile network of care.

Among their dedicated guardians is Anna, a junior nurse whose steady hands have long provided comfort, even as her heart bore the heavy weight of feeling “not enough.”

Since the war started in 2022, the number of people living with disabilities in Ukraine has surged by 11%, now exceeding three million. This figure includes 231,000 children whose survival depends on a healthcare system under unprecedented strain.

For Anna, the crisis transformed her role from a job into a mission. However, she soon realised that compassion alone could not bridge the gap between a child’s pain and their recovery.

“I look at the children in our care, and I realise that just being there wasn't enough,” Anna explains. “I need deeper competence to be the bridge they deserve.”

Anna is one of the many faces behind a transformative vocational training initiative implemented in Kyiv and Dnipro's regions (central and eastern Ukraine).

Supported by World Vision in partnership with the Dnipro Centre for Vocational and Technical Education, the project addresses a critical wartime paradox: while displacement has left thousands unemployed, the healthcare and construction sectors face desperate labour shortages.

“Now, when a child’s breathing changes or their vitals shift, I don’t just wait for a nurse. I know exactly what to do in those first critical minutes. It has given me a confidence I didn't know I lacked.” -Anna

Through the RESILIENT programme, Anna enrolled in an intensive two-month curriculum, attending classes five days a week. The initiative provides specialised training in high-demand roles, including Emergency Medical Technicians, Warehouse Operations, Slingers, Computerised Accounting, and Junior Nursing.

Unlike basic workshops, this programme offers:

• Practical Mastery: Hands-on experience in specialised facilities using comprehensive materials.
• Professional Empowerment: State-recognised certification and mentorship from dedicated coordinators.
• Economic Stability: Job-readiness training and internships designed for long-term self-sufficiency

Before the training, Anna’s work was primarily supportive; she often had to wait for senior staff to intervene during medical scares. Today, she is a skilled professional capable of performing CPR, administering injections, and managing complex emergencies independently.

“The training was a revelation,” Anna shares. “Now, when a child’s breathing changes or their vitals shift, I don’t just wait for a nurse. I know exactly what to do in those first critical minutes. It has given me a confidence I didn't know I lacked.”

By empowering women like Anna to step into critical roles, whether in hospital wards or on urban reconstruction sites, the initiative is bridging the gender gap and building a foundation for national economic recovery.

The impact is staggering: during this project period alone, over 100 individuals in Kyiv and Dnipro regions gained professional qualifications. On a broader scale, World Vision has supported over 15,500 individuals through professional training in Ukraine since 2022.

"What inspires me most are the achievements of the children. Some of them begin to walk, others begin to speak. Those moments are our greatest victories." -Anna

"What inspires me most are the achievements of the children. Some of them begin to walk, others begin to speak. Those moments are our greatest victories," Anna shares.

In Dnipro, Anna continues her work not just as a caregiver, but as a highly trained junior nurse. Through World Vision’s support, she has moved beyond the “weight of not enough”, standing as a capable guardian for Ukraine’s most vulnerable children.