“My love for children motivates me: I see a unique personality in each of them, and in a way, I see my own grandchildren, whom I miss because the war has separated us,” Says Educator at Zatyshno Space, a Psychosocial and Legal Support Space in Kharkiv

For many years, Svitlana taught English language and literature at school and later, she taught foreign students at Kharkiv National Medical University, where she also held the position of the vice dean of the faculty. After the department was disbanded due to the full-scale invasion, she went on to work at one of Kharkiv’s lyceums as a deputy director and English teacher.

Svitlana was familiar with the activities of East SOS, but she joined the team after learning about the idea of creating a psychosocial and legal support space for people affected by the war in Kharkiv. She has been part of the team since October 2023 and has never regretted her decision to continue her work in the public sector.

“Help and support – what could be more important than feeling needed in these difficult times? As I work in the space, I create development programs and educational activities for children as young as 3, teenagers, and adults. I run interactive sessions, creative workshops, and classes. We knit, sculpt, felt wool, paint, and glue. I’m inspired by this work every day,” says Svitlana.

Svitlana particularly remembers a boy who initially didn’t want to communicate and would hide behind his grandmother. Step by step, week after week, he started to open up in the space: he began playing with the other children and showing interest in the activities.

“When Hlibchyk sweetly called me grandma, I almost cried. My love for children motivates me: I see a unique personality in each of them. And in a way, I see my own grandchildren, whom I miss because the war has separated us,”  admits Svitlana.

For her, the success is seeing the joy in the children’s eyes and their desire to come back to the classes. The hardest part is witnessing the sadness in their eyes, caused by the war. Svitlana dreams of Ukraine’s victory and the just punishment for every crime committed by russia on our land.

If you or your loved ones are in Kharkiv or the surrounding area and need help from East SOS, reach out to the psychosocial and legal support space Zatyshno Space.
Kharkiv, Hoholia Street, 11.
+38 (097) 384 97 35