A Ukrainian mother’s firm determination to rebuild life in the midst of war

Olena and her four children hurriedly left Melitopol, a city in southeastern Ukraine when the war started last year. They are among the 5.4 million internally displaced people (IDP) facing enormous difficulties to rebuild their lives.

The family found shelter in the Lviv Theological Seminary where the eldest son, 19-year-old Ivan is studying to become a church minister.

World Vision, in partnership with Youth Movement Be Free (YMBF) through the support of USAID’s Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), ACTED Ukraine and the Ukraine Response Consortium, has been providing hygiene kits to collective centers including the seminary where 30 people live.

“We are fine here, we have food, we have a place to live. The children attend online classes. We receive soaps, towels, diapers for my one-year and four months old daughter Sophia,” Olena shared.

“It is important to provide help to the displaced in the centers. Most of them are elderly, people with disabilities, or single-headed families where a parent cannot go to work and leave their children. Our support is valuable for them,” said Alisa Bardashevska, the Officer for the BHA-funded Project.

The 42-year-old mother was working as a nurse before the war. “It is difficult being unable to work and not earn money. It was very hard to leave the home we built for 12 years. In an instant, we need to pack our things and leave everything behind,” Olena recalled.

The family is staying in a small room with two double decker beds, a small table with two chairs and a crib for Sophia. “Still, I am grateful we are together. We were in a warm place during the winter. We are safe.”

I always tell my children that family is important, they should love and help each other. My dream is for all of them to have good education and a good future.

Her son Oleksander, 9 and daughters Victoria, 14 and Daria, 12 are using mobile phones to attend their online classes.  As families flee from the war, the education of more than six million children have been severely impacted. 

In the evening, the teachers send their tasks for the next day. Olena believes face to face classes was much easier for students than online. “Oleksander has learning disability. Online school is difficult for him. He needs a special education, but we do not have money,” Olena shared.

Only around 25 per cent of Ukrainian schools have been able to have full time, in-person or face to face learning since September 2022. “It is easier to understand our lessons if we are inside the classrooms. Our teachers can explain well, and we just listen,” Victoria said.

As the war continues, Olena still hopes it will end soon and they can go back to their home. While waiting for that day, she is determined to rebuild their new lives in Lviv City. Her daughter Daria will soon compete in free style wresting competition.

“I always tell my children that family is important, they should love and help each other. My dream is for all of them to have good education and a good future.”

Asked how she managed to be strong, she shares “My father was a soldier. He told me not to be dependent on anyone but to rely on myself because I can do everything. As a mother, I need to be strong for my children”, Olena shared.

World Vision Ukraine Crisis Response has supported 134,801 people with hygiene kits. Overall, 1,074,234 refugees, internally displaced people and host communities in Ukraine, Romania, Moldova and Georgia were reached through the support of its donors and 25 partner organizations.

Story and photos by Leoniza Morales, Communications Specialist