Thanks to the psychological support activities we carry out in Ukraine with the support of the European Union, people like Lyudmila are able to regain relief despite the still ongoing war and daily suffering.
by Davide Maria De Luca for INTERSOS
Lyudmila Kovalenko is 68 years old and lived in the village of Tsyrkuny, Ukraine. Today, with her husband, she faces daily the difficulties of a life marked by conflict and the destruction of their home. After decades of work – he leading agricultural cooperatives, she in Kharkiv’s main bakery – they now receive only an insufficient pension and a little support as IDPs. Utility bills, heating, daily expenses-everything has become a huge burden.
When their apartment was destroyed, their lives changed dramatically. The walls and roof have been repaired, but the interior remains empty, and Lyudmila and her husband face this condition without adequate support as they try to rebuild their normality.
Despite everything, Lyudmila finds moments of relief and support thanks to Intersos. Each week she participates in an hour of art therapy together with psychologists and social workers from the NGO, a small space of calm and sharing made possible by funding from the European Union. It is one of the best times of her week: there she is able to distract herself, express her emotions and find some serenity, away from the routine that often reminds her of daily difficulties.
Lyudmila’s son, mobilized since the beginning of the war, remains a constant source of concern for her. Despite the distance and emergency conditions, she stays in touch via WhatsApp, and knowing that he is alive and safe gives her some comfort.
Lyudmila hopes for peace and dreams of a future where families like hers can receive the support and attention they deserve. In the meantime, he waits each week for the arrival of Intersos workers to spend at least an hour with happier thoughts than those that war brings.