“I don't remember the beginning of the war well. I think my brain just shut down,” says Eva, 15, her voice tinged with both sadness and a certain strength.

Eva grew up in the small town of Huliaipole in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, where life was steady and familiar — until February 2022. After the devastating first two weeks of war, Eva and her mother were forced to flee to Lviv, leaving behind the only home she’d ever known.

At first, they found refuge with relatives in a village near Lviv. The unfamiliar surroundings initially added to the sense of chaos. But the warmth of family and the support they found in a local community gradually helped them settle.

From uncertainty to belonging

Rebuilding life and a sense of belonging wasn’t easy. Eva initially continued her education online through her school back home. But the distance, both physical and emotional, weighed on her, and so she transferred to a local school for her eighth-grade studies. “At first, it was difficult. No friends, no familiar places,” she admits.  Now, things have changed. “I like it very much,” she shares with a smile. “I’ve made friends with my classmates, and the teachers here are incredible. I’m even sad to leave.”

Another turning point came when Eva’s mother discovered a local day center run by World Vision’s local partner, the Ukrainian Foundation for Public Health. The center opens its doors to children, women, and internally displaced families, and offers art therapy, craft workshops, and essential psychosocial support services.

Centers like this one have become crucial for families affected by the war, addressing not just immediate needs but also the deep psychological toll of displacement. In Ukraine, 75% of parents observed symptoms of trauma in their children, with 16% noting challenges like impaired memory, shortened attention spans, and reduced learning capacity.

For Eva, the center became a safe space — a place where she could express herself creatively. “I love to draw, so I often go to activities related to drawing,” she says with enthusiasm. Over the past year, the center has provided her with not just creative outlets but also a growing network of friends and support.

Dreaming of the future

Eva finds comfort in the regular conversations she has with the center’s social workers. Their support has helped her process the immense changes she’s faced and help keep her dreams alive. She is one of over 206,000 people who have benefited from mental health services provided through World Vision’s Ukraine Crisis Response as of November 2024.

Eva has big plans for the years ahead. “My dream is to enter a music college in Lviv and become a professional orchestra conductor. I want to study and go to Europe, to France,” she shares, her eyes lighting up as she talks about her future. For now, though, Eva is focused on her music, her friends, and embracing the new life she’s building, one step at a time.

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Story published on January 22, 2025