Stories

16-year-old Ivan from Mariupol lost his parents in the war. Today, he is rebuilding his life with our support
February 18, 2025 News

16-year-old Ivan from Mariupol lost his parents in the war. Today, he is rebuilding his life with our support

We heard powerful explosions. We were told to pack our bags and leave,” recalls 16-year-old Ivan. He is one of 36 children evacuated by a Ukrainian couple in February 2022 from Mariupol and nearby villages before the Russians besieged the city and began to destroy it. The war has left Ivan a complete orphan. His home was damaged, and the city has been occupied for three years. Ivan got back on his feet thanks to the support of his guardians and friends in a settlement built by Caritas Czech Republic in Transcarpathia.

I was told it was too late for a new profession. The training from Caritas Czech Republic gave me self-confidence, says Tetiana from Ukraine
February 11, 2025 News

I was told it was too late for a new profession. The training from Caritas Czech Republic gave me self-confidence, says Tetiana from Ukraine

At the age of 49, Tetiana took up a new profession, upgrading her qualifications as a hairdresser-colourist with the help of a mini-grant from Caritas Czech Republic. “My previous job was much more harmful, unlike this one,” she says with a smile, reflecting on her 15 years of work at a metallurgical plant in the frontline town of Kostiantynivka, eastern Ukraine. Today, Tetiana works in a beauty salon and is motivated to improve her skills and stand on her own feet during challenging times.

Diana from Kharkiv helps to restore children's mental health and takes part in renovation works in the western Ukraine
February 6, 2025 News

Diana from Kharkiv helps to restore children's mental health and takes part in renovation works in the western Ukraine

“We fled with my son when the blast wave smashed the windows in the house, recalls Diana from frontline Kharkiv. Our conversation took place in the town of Berehove in Transcarpathia, far from the war zone. Here, she found housing and a job through support programmes for affected Ukrainians from Caritas Czech Republic. Thanks to the grant, Diana completed training courses in child neuropsychology and dreams of running her own Child development centre.

3 000 people in the front line Kherson region in Ukraine will be warm this winter thanks to Caritas Czech Republic
December 16, 2024 News

3 000 people in the front line Kherson region in Ukraine will be warm this winter thanks to Caritas Czech Republic

It is less than 20 kilometres from the village of Belozerka in the Kherson region to the front line. “Just half an hour ago, a shell hit our village, leaving us once again without light and water," says Inna, a local resident. For Inna and her neighbours, such goods as light and gas have become a luxury, and frosty winters are outside. Massive attacks regularly destroy the infrastructure of frontline communities, and unemployment deprives people of the ability to stock up on fuel for the winter. “We are very grateful that you deliver us firewood even when it's shelling,” Inna says sincerely.

5 inspiring stories from Christmas in Ukraine
December 4, 2024 News

5 inspiring stories from Christmas in Ukraine

Amidst the roar of generators, sirens, missile and drone attacks, Ukraine is celebrating its third Christmas in war and the 11th year of occupation of the East and Crimea.  Ukrainians see Christmas as a symbol of family and unity. For a lot of people, this holiday is spent in the trenches. That is why Christmas Eve is often preceded by a visit to the church and the post office: people pray for their relatives and friends at the front and send them gifts. These stories tell how the war has affected Christmas traditions in Ukraine.