The Path to a New Life Begins with Support: How East SOS Helps Evacuees Restore Documents and Access Aid

For most of her life, Tetiana worked as the chief accountant at the bus station in Sloviansk, Donetsk Oblast. She had two children. Her son passed away before the full-scale war began. Her daughter now lives in russia. Her grandson remained in Sloviansk and is involved now in volunteer work.

When staying at home became dangerous due to constant enemy shelling, she was evacuated by the East SOS team. At the transit center in Pavlohrad, our specialists provided her with psychosocial and legal support. For Tetiana, this was a difficult journey with forced relocation, uncertainty, and the need to start from scratch in a new place.

“For Tetiana, the first priority was to restore what she needed to rebuild her life in the new place, including her lost documents, access to social benefits, and staying in touch with her family. We helped her obtain a pension certificate, apply for the multi-purpose cash assistance for vulnerable internally displaced persons, and provided her with a mobile phone and SIM card. Currently, Tetiana is staying at the Social Adaptation Center for People with Disabilities, managed by the NGO Ocean of Goodness (Okean Dobra) in Dnipro. Our support doesn’t end here—we are actively seeking long-term housing options for her in safer conditions,” said Olena Bosa, a social worker at East SOS.

Behind every request for assistance are difficult life situations and the need to rebuild life step by step.

In December 2025 and January 2026, with the support of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), East SOS provided 203 psychological consultations and 593 social consultations to those affected by the war. We also helped 69 people find safe housing. Additionally, we conducted three art therapy sessions for 16 residents of the Social Adaptation Center for People with Disabilities, run by the Ocean of Good NGO in Dnipro.

Psychosocial support is provided as part of the Protection and Psychosocial Services for People with Limited Mobility and Persons with Disabilities Affected by the War project, which is implemented with the support of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).

Earlier, we shared how East SOS helps people in shelters.