War has destroyed thousands of homes and countless lives. Every story carries its own unique blend of pain and strength. Hanna’s story from Izium is one of them.
When the full-scale invasion began, her family left their hometown. They lived in Irpin so that their younger daughter could attend kindergarten and their son could go to school. But a year ago, they had to return to Izium because Hanna’s father suffered a severe stroke, leaving him paralyzed and in need of constant care.
Soon after, the family faced another tragedy. After eight “Shahed” drones struck near their yard, the blast shattered all the windows and damaged the roof and doors. The shockwave even jammed the interior doors, which had to be forced open. The family was left almost defenseless: cold, dust, and darkness became part of their daily life.
“I didn’t even know if we were alive when the explosions stopped. Everything was covered in dust and glass. The scariest part was seeing the children lie on the floor to protect themselves,” Hanna recalls.
It was especially hard for the children. Behind the boarded-up windows, they lost any sense of time, and their sleep stretched to 12–14 hours because they couldn’t tell whether it was day or night outside.
“It felt like living in a basement. It was psychologically overwhelming,” the mother shares.
Despite her own pain and the responsibility of caring for her paralyzed father and two children, Hanna continues to work at the charitable foundation Volunteers for Children, visiting communities to support orphans and children deprived of parental care.
This time, the support came to her own home. Thanks to the work carried out under the project “Strengthening Resilience and Protecting Conflict-Affected Individuals, Communities, and Systems in Central and Eastern Ukraine”, new windows were installed.
“Now the children sleep more peacefully. And for the first time in a long while, I can say that we are truly home,” she says.
Of course, the roof and doors still need to be restored, but the most important thing has already been done: the house once again has light, fresh air, and a sense of safety.
The Strengthening Resilience and Protection of Conflict-Affected Individuals, Communities, and Systems in Central and Eastern Ukraine project is implemented by the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” in cooperation with the international humanitarian organization CARE and with the support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.