When we first met Yarynka, she wouldn’t even lift her eyes. She remained silent, clutching the straps of her small backpack so tightly, as if she were afraid someone would take that, too—just as they had already taken her home, her school, and her normal life.

Yarynka survived the occupation alongside her parents. For over a month, she and her mother waited for permission to leave, giving up their last savings for a chance at safety. The journey through the checkpoints was long and exhausting. A bit later, the girl’s father also managed to escape the occupied territories. However, almost immediately, he volunteered for the front lines to protect his daughter’s future.

After everything she had endured, Yarynka became afraid of the dark, rustling sounds, and sudden noises. She had completely lost her sense of safety.

At the Save Ukraine day center, through the EMPOWER program, our specialists gradually helped her regain that feeling. Through the support of psychologists, calm conversations, and play, Yarynka slowly began to reclaim the simple possibility of being a child.

Although the recovery process is still ongoing, today Yarynka smiles more often, looks up, and is no longer afraid that someone will take her last personal possession—her backpack.

In our day centers, children rescued from occupied and frontline territories are gradually learning to trust the world again and are reclaiming their childhoods. On this path to recovery stand simple things: safety, care, and love.

💛 We sincerely thank Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe for their partnership, trust, and vital contribution to the recovery of Ukrainian children.

***

The project “EMPOWER: Education, Mental Health, Protection, and Opportunities for Well-being and Resilience” is implemented by Save Ukraine in partnership with the German humanitarian organization Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe.