Olha and her daughter lived under occupation for nearly three years. Every single day was a struggle: she had to constantly hide her child from danger, endure numerous home raids, and fight to find food and medicine just to survive — to avoid starving or dying from illness. Day by day, the despair and disbelief in a normal life only grew stronger.

But despite everything, her daughter kept growing. And as she got older, Olha realized — they couldn’t wait any longer. It was time to escape. Thankfully, Olha found out about Save Ukraine and entrusted our team with helping her flee the occupied territory.

That’s how they found themselves at our Hope and Healing Center. It was here they took their first steps toward rebuilding a normal life. After escaping, the child barely spoke, avoided contact, and was too afraid to open up. But thanks to art therapy, body-oriented practices, and bibliotherapy, she slowly started smiling again, speaking, and even dreaming about the future.

Psychologist Svitlana Borsuk managed to build a trusting relationship with Olha’s daughter and helped stabilize her condition. Today, the girl happily attends the day center, reads books, draws, and is adjusting to her new life. The work continues, though — they are now focusing on restoring her motivation to learn.

Thank you NovaUkraine for supporting children who have survived the horrors of occupation. Together, we’re helping them come back to life.

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Psychological counseling is provided within the framework of the program “Public Health System Recovery and Resilience Activity (PHS R&R).”