“I Want Children to Trust me, so I Create a Space Where They Feel Safe, Comfortable, and Free to Grow”
Iryna grew up in Znamianka, a town in Kirovohrad Oblast that remains her place of strength. But Mykolaiv, where she has spent most of her life, has become her home, and the place where she built her professional path.
For more than 16 years, Iryna worked in education: she taught English and worked as a primary school teacher. Since her student years, she spent every summer working at children’s camps – alongside kids, in an atmosphere of movement, creativity, and face-to-face interaction.
In 2019, Iryna left school to focus fully on working with children in camps. She knew this was her calling. In 2023, she joined the EAST SOS Charity Foundation as an educator at Zatyshno Space, where her teaching background and experience working with children in informal settings came together naturally.
By that time, children in Mykolaiv had already spent more than a year studying online because of the full-scale invasion. Sports and creative clubs were almost no longer available. Zatyshno Space became one of the few places where they could meet peers, recover emotionally, and feel supported.
“I honestly cannot imagine my life without this work. Children’s sincere emotions inspire me every day. I am happy when I can make life a little brighter and more interesting for children and teenagers. I want children to trust me, so I create a space where they feel safe, comfortable, and free to grow,” Iryna says.
The most difficult part of her work is supporting children with special educational needs, making sure they feel safe and have opportunities to connect with others.
“And the most rewarding part is seeing joy in children’s eyes. Even now, in such difficult times, every child deserves a childhood without limitations – with laughter, friends, fun, and bright memories,” she adds.
If you or your loved ones are in Mykolaiv and need support, please contact Zatyshno Space, the psychosocial and legal support space, run byt he EAST SOS Charity Foundation.
79-A Marko Kropyvnytsky St.
+38 (099) 790 00 70
