Stories

In one minute, they lost everything – the stories of people from eastern Ukraine
March 18, 2026 Humanitární pomoc a rozvojová spolupráce Charity ČR

In one minute, they lost everything – the stories of people from eastern Ukraine

Humanitarian aid can be measured in food packages, litres of water, or tons of firewood. But behind those figures, real people’s stories are hidden  stories of those from Eastern Ukraine who, like us today, once owned houses, worked, and raised children. In 2022, they lost everything in a matter of minutes. Many decided to leave their hometowns and move to the relative safety of western Ukraine, such as Ivano-Frankivsk. One of them was Iryna: “People came here with small suitcases. They packed their entire lives into one bag. They constantly follow the news from home. They live in hope of returning, no matter what.” These are their stories. 

The bombing blew out windows and doors. The shelter's residents in Kryvyi Rih found comfort with Caritas Czech Republic
March 6, 2026 News

The bombing blew out windows and doors. The shelter's residents in Kryvyi Rih found comfort with Caritas Czech Republic

On the eve of winter, damp and cold prevailed in the rooms of the Polytechnic College dormitory in the frontline town of Kryvyi Rih. A drone attack damaged the windows of the building, sheltering more than 120 evacuees from the combat zone. Most of them are single elderly people and people with disabilities. As part of a life-saving aid project, we replaced the windows so that the shelter's residents could stay warm.

It is about freedom, not just filling your wardrobe. Mother and daughter develop a Ukrainian clothing brand with a grant from Caritas Czech Republic
January 20, 2026 News

It is about freedom, not just filling your wardrobe. Mother and daughter develop a Ukrainian clothing brand with a grant from Caritas Czech Republic

Svitlana and Olga are a family from the Russian-occupied town of Polohy in the Zaporizhzhia region. Despite the war that destroyed their home and well-being, they founded a clothing brand in Ivano-Frankivsk to help women become more confident. Discover the story about these resilient Ukrainian women and a grants programme from Caritas Czech Republic for small craft businesses.

Oleksandra found a job as an accountant in Lviv. Thanks to Caritas, she improved her skills and now contributes to the growth of a well-known local shop.
January 13, 2026 Humanitární pomoc a rozvojová spolupráce Charity ČR

Oleksandra found a job as an accountant in Lviv. Thanks to Caritas, she improved her skills and now contributes to the growth of a well-known local shop.

In the weeks before Christmas, Caritas Czech Republic visited Lviv. We also stopped by a shop called „Something Interesting“, which sells blown glass products typical of the town. Oleksandra works as the shop’s accountant. She moved to Lviv from Zaporizhzhia before the war began. She did not plan to settle down, but the conflict has extended her stay indefinitely. Thanks to support from Caritas Czech Republic, she attended two courses that helped her strengthen the company’s growth. 

A lifesaving firewood stove. Little Evelina's family will survive the winter in warmth thanks to donated solid fuel
December 15, 2025 News

A lifesaving firewood stove. Little Evelina's family will survive the winter in warmth thanks to donated solid fuel

The war forced two-year-old Evelina and her parents, Yevhen and Marjana, to flee their hometown of Marganets in the Dnipropetrovsk region. The family settled in a rural house, where the only source of warmth in winter is an old wood-burning stove. Due to unemployment and the rising cost of solid fuel, it is extremely difficult to heat the house throughout the winter, so the family is grateful for the help provided by Caritas Czech Republic and the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund.