The Story of Yeva and Dmytro from Kharkiv

That day, the family woke up in Kharkiv at half past four in the morning to a powerful explosion and a red glow in the sky. There was no doubt — the full-scale war had begun. What followed felt like a blur: six days in a cramped basement under the sound of constant shelling, a half-hour run to the metro under Grad rocket fire, and the news that their building had been hit and their apartment burned to the ground. All of this happened just after the family had managed to move to another shelter.

The road to a new life

Surrounded by complete strangers, with one backpack for everyone and their dog, a new life began for Yeva and Dmytro’s family. Yeva was 12, Dmytro was 17. He was affected the most — he withdrew into himself and stopped talking. Everyone was in shock. Before that, the children had read about war in books or heard stories from their grandfather, who assured them that civilians would never be harmed. But this time was different. No one could believe that in the 21st century children would witness a real and brutal war with their own eyes.

There were many people in the shelter. They slept on the floor, and the only food available was bread. People were afraid to go outside, as the shelling was constant — it could cost them their lives. After two days, the family moved through a tunnel to another station, where conditions were slightly better. They stayed there for four more days. After a strike hit near the station, it became clear that they had to leave. Overcoming their fear, they made their way to the train station. When the train started moving, shelling began. The journey to Lviv took another two days. They hurried onto the carriage and left, starting over in a new home.

The war made it painfully clear that life is the most precious thing we have, and that every day with our loved ones is a gift.

In Lviv, the family took a long time to recover from what they had experienced. Understanding how to live on did not come immediately. The children do not dwell on having lost everything — they are grateful that everyone is alive and that the family is together.

The SviTY space and a new chapter

Their mother, Nataliia, learned about the SviTY program and immediately enrolled Yeva; later, Dmytro joined as well. After each visit, the parents notice positive changes in their children: Yeva eagerly shares everything that happens in the space, while Dmytro gradually opens up and smiles more and more often.

For the children, SviTY has become an important stage in their lives. They radiate light and are slowly becoming who they were before the war. They say they have found another family. Yeva visits the space almost every day, actively participates in the sessions, and afterward walks around the city with new friends. Dmytro enjoys his meetings with the psychologist, where important and meaningful topics are always discussed.

Nataliia is also a participant in the program — she attends peer support groups for parents. Thanks to these meetings, she notices significant changes in herself and gradually gains clarity about how to move forward. She has also found a friend with whom she shares warm moments over a cup of Lviv coffee.

The family is convinced that children must be protected, because without them, there is no future.