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In the Ukrainian city of Korosten, the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion was felt from the first hours. "We were under fire, we saw tanks and heard everything. It was really scary. When you see these real events in front of you, you realize that this is not a dream and you are not imagining things. This is war," Alina, a Korosten resident, recalled. But even despite the rapid advance of Russian troops into Ukraine, Alina, a social worker with 17 years of experience in the field, was determined to stay and support her community. "It was very scary, but I had no idea of leaving my home," Alina told us. She started volunteering by doing what she does best — calming people down to stabilize their emotional state. Since the end of July, Alina has joined the work of a psychosocial support mobile team for survivors of violence, launched with the support of UNFPA thanks to gifts from supporters like you. Her experience has allowed her not only to help families who come to her, but also to identify cases of violence among those in difficult life circumstances. As war rages on in Ukraine, volunteers like Alina are counting on your support to continue reaching women and girls impacted by violence with urgently needed psychosocial care. In addition to social and psychological support, the team's specialists provide full support to the survivors. "If legal, medical, or law enforcement assistance is needed, we refer them to the appropriate services," Alina says. They also draw up a security plan with clients, assess their needs, and sign a non-disclosure agreement. An influx of displaced refugees into the city from regions where active hostilities are ongoing have made work especially challenging for mobile teams, since it can often be difficult for people to find a common language. Amid the stressful nature of the work and the constant tension due to the city's proximity to the border, it can be difficult for specialists to cope psychologically with anxiety. But Alina says she is inspired by the positive solutions to her clients' situations: "When you see the result you're involved in, it's like wings grow. Sometimes people come with their children and thank us. There was a case when we transported a survivor to a safe place. She thanked us for a long time afterward. I still remember the warmth of her hands," she told us.
Volunteers like Alina and our mobile teams can reach even more survivors — but only with your continued support. Thank you for being with women and girls, no matter what. — USA for UNFPA |
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