Yelyzaveta Lysenko, Kyiv: “Even a kind word or a simple gesture can make a real difference”

Yelyzaveta is a volunteer with the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) programme of the Ukrainian Red Cross. She joined the team over six months ago, although her journey as a volunteer began much earlier — for nearly seven years, Yelyzaveta has been involved in charitable and volunteer initiatives. For her, volunteering is not a duty but a conscious choice and a personal responsibility towards those in need.

She chose this area of work deliberately, as it combines direct human interaction, group activities, simple educational formats, and attention to people’s mental well-being. Yelyzaveta believes that support goes beyond material aid — it is just as important to create safe spaces where people can be heard, feel understood, and gradually regain a sense of control over their own lives.

What has stayed with her most are her encounters with children forced to flee their homes because of the war, as well as the children of military personnel she has been working with since 2018. Through drawing, games, conversations, and shared creative activities, children learn to process difficult emotions without shame or fear. “I saw the tension in their eyes transform into curiosity and engagement. That’s when you realise that even a small safe space can become a source of strength for someone,” she shares.

Yelyzaveta continues volunteering because it offers both personal and professional growth, and a genuine sense of purpose — especially when she sees results and children’s smiles. For her, helping others today means remaining human: not turning away from someone else’s pain, and upholding dignity and solidaritу.