Community center in Rohatyn

The child's story:

Name: Anna
Age: 15 years
Status: -
The names are fictional, but the ages are approximate. For the protection of the children and confidentiality, we do not include photos.

Anna is a child from a large family, and they are internally displaced persons (IDPs). Her father, a military man, has been at war since 2014, and her youngest sibling has a disability. From the moment we encountered this family, it was evident that they required support. They had sought refuge from the war in a relative's house, which lacked adequate heating. Warm clothing, bed linen, blankets, and other necessities were provided to the family as part of the humanitarian aid.

However, it wasn't just material support they needed. In the new city, they lacked social connections, and the children rarely left the house. Although Anna excelled in online schooling, she experienced depression and lacked interaction with her peers. Her mother dedicated most of her time to caring for the youngest child, leaving little room for support or communication. Despite many people living in a small hut, the mother did her best to provide love and warmth to her children.

Anna has been attending our Day Center for four months, where she engages with her peers. She is not fond of noisy activities but enjoys board games. We frequently observe her pain, which she conceals within. Our psychologists and teachers have been working diligently to establish a warm relationship with her, and gradually, she is opening up. Her smiles have become more frequent. Together, we baked gingerbread cookies, decorated and signed letters of congratulations for the military, as Anna's father is a serviceman.