Marking National Social Worker Day: Can You Tell Us You Work in the Social Sector Without Actually Saying It?
The first Sunday of November marks National Social Worker Day in Ukraine! To celebrate, we asked our colleagues to tell us about their work without naming their profession.
The EAST SOS Charity Foundation team currently has 22 care professionals, including social support specialists and case managers. They welcome people at transit centers, provide support after evacuation, help them restore lost documents, apply for social benefits, find accommodation, and rebuild their lives in their new hromadas. They also travel to remote settlements to make social services more accessible to local residents.
The team continuously adapts its work to new challenges and people’s needs. Since 2025, specialists have been taking part in outreach visits to frontline hromadas, where they provide residents with information about evacuation, as well as visiting sites of russian attacks to provide consultations to those affected by the attacks. In addition, the team has launched comprehensive support services for veterans, women veterans, their families, and the families of service members missing in action.
Behind each of these activities are knowledge, experience, and dozens of decisions that often go unnoticed. Working in the social sector requires considerable flexibility, resourcefulness, and the ability to find an individual approach to people with different needs and life circumstances. It also requires empathy, patience, and a genuine desire to help.
We deeply appreciate everyone who dedicates so much effort and care to this work every day. We admire how much you accomplish, how attentively you approach every story, and how persistently you seek solutions, even in the most difficult situations.
Can you tell us you work in the social sector without actually saying it?
EAST SOS specialists share their answers
“I found a free program that provides hearing aids and helped Volodymyr regain his ability to hear.”
Social Support Specialist Olha Voloshko
“Being there for someone when they have nothing else left to hold on to.”
Social Support Specialist Bohdan Hryhorenko
“After evacuating from Kramatorsk, Taisiia lost her husband, with whom she had shared 58 years of her life. I was there for her during this difficult time and helped her prepare for permanent accommodation.”
Social Support Specialist Olena Bosa
“I helped Natalia and her brother Oleh obtain international passports and arranged for a walking cane to make it easier for Natalia to get around. I continue to support them and help Natalia access medical services.”
Case Manager Yana Shykova
“I helped Volodymyr, who had been evacuated, obtain a Ukrainian passport. I accompanied him to government offices, gathered the necessary information, and helped him with other related administrative matters.”
Social Support Specialist Oksana Akchebash
“I supported Valentyna following her evacuation from Dobropillia to Kharkiv, helping her with everything from restoring her pension payments to answering brief phone calls about which bus to take to the hospital in an unfamiliar city.”
Case Manager Anna Yavtushenko
“For two months, I accompanied Andrii to a medical center to ensure he could attend rehabilitation sessions regularly and recover faster.”
Social Support Specialist Nataliia Tolbatova
“I helped Liudmyla, obtain the financial assistance she was entitled to while she awaited news of her son, who had gone missing in the war.”
Social Support Specialist Iryna Shymkova
“I supported Vira following her son, a serviceman, going missing in action. This included contacting the relevant authorities, helping recover his personal belongings and documents, and arranging the benefits she was entitled to.”
Social Support Specialist Alona Katran
“I helped Iryna turn her 20 years of professional experience at one company into a modern CV and taught her to feel more confident answering HR questions ahead of her first-ever job interview on Zoom.”
Case Manager Iryna Hnatiuk
Dear social sector professionals, behind your everyday work are hundreds of human stories in which, thanks to you, there is a little less anxiety, loneliness, and uncertainty.
We are grateful for your compassion and commitment to being there whenever needed. Thank you for the care that helps people regain a sense of support and hope.
Happy Professional Day!
