Author:
Mariia Kucova
Counting one, two, three, four, five! To play in Zmiiv I arrived.
Nataliia Chumak is a recreation specialist at the Kharkiv Сenter of the "Voices of Children" Foundation. She also actively engages in outreach trips to communities across the Kharkiv region, where families with children face limited access to essential services. This time Nataliia visited Zmiiv.
There are numerous children in need of our attention. Our goal is to make the experience of war less frightening for them and provide some support,
noted the specialist.
noted the specialist.
Nataliia brings leisure and meaningful interaction to the local children, something in short supply during wartime. With daycares and schools mostly online now, playing with friends outside is risky. However, with the specialist from the "Voices of Children" Foundation, they dance, engage in creative activities, and afterward, enjoy tea with treats.
It evokes new emotions. It brings smiles. If we don't provide children with these experiences, they risk developing psychological problems,
Nataliia explained.
Nataliia explained.
To Endure Everything for the Sake of Her Child
Nataliia recounted her harrowing experience to hromadske. She found herself amidst a large-scale invasion while visiting her parents in Lozova. Just after celebrating her daughter Melaniia's first birthday there, she had planned to return to Kharkiv, but by then, it was already too late.
We had almost nothing with us: clothes, toys — everything was left behind at home. Yet, I still felt like I was in the right place at the right time. I realized I could be of help to someone, so the very next day I volunteered while my mother stayed with her granddaughter,
Nataliia recalled.
Nataliia recalled.
As Russian troops neared Lozova, Nataliia fled to Uzhhorod with her daughter, finding refuge with acquaintances. Initially, she struggled greatly, shedding many tears. However, she found the strength to persevere, knowing that little Melaniia depended on her.
As time went on, Nataliia even began to bring together other mothers who had also fled the war with their children. Together, they organized children's discos and walks in the woods.
Yet, her homesickness persisted. As soon as the situation in Kharkiv became safer, Nataliia and her daughter returned to their hometown. It was then that she joined the "Voices of Children" team.
It was a blessing to be back in Kharkiv, my hometown. The shelling had significantly decreased. Many families had also returned, and the city had begun to come back to life,
Nataliia shared.
Nataliia shared.
Lately, Russian forces have escalated their shelling of Kharkiv once more, prompting Nataliia to relocate her daughter to her grandmother's house outside the city, where it's much safer. Meanwhile, as a specialist, she continues to foster childhood memories not only for her own child but also for many others.
Within the framework of the project "Protection and financial assistance to children and their families in Kharkiv and Mykolaiv regions of Ukraine", implemented jointly with ChildFund Deutschland and funded by the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund (UHF) — United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs / OCHA Ukraine (Project UN24-01/CBPF-UKR-23-S-INGO-24915).
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