This is a place where you want to live, socialise, and plan for the future: Liudmyla Plastiuk, Donetsk region

Before the full-scale invasion, Liudmyla Plastiuk lived in Nova Kakhovka, Kherson region. It was her home, where she had built her life and shared many cherished memories with the people around her.

In 2022, everything changed. Liudmyla went to Myrnohrad to care for her seriously ill father. He passed away in early March, and by then, returning to her home in Nova Kakhovka was no longer possible.

More moves followed — first to Ivano-Frankivsk, then to the Khmelnytskyi region. Later, after learning about Hansen Village in Tarasivka, Kyiv region, Liudmyla applied as an internally displaced person, successfully completed the selection process, and moved there in the autumn of 2023.

“We were so happy. The conditions here are wonderful, the people are kind, and there’s a real atmosphere of support. This is a place where you want to live, connect with others, make new friends, and plan for the future,” Liudmyla says.

It was there that she joined the Time for Yourself Active Longevity Club, run by the Fastiv city-district branch of the Ukrainian Red Cross. Before long, she also became a volunteer with the organisation.

Today, Liudmyla is one of the Club’s most active members. She takes part in creative workshops, social gatherings, and psychosocial support activities, and also leads Nordic walking sessions. For many participants, these sessions are not only an opportunity to stay physically active but also a chance to socialise, support one another, and build new friendships.

Liudmyla’s story shows that even after loss and forced displacement, it is possible to find a new community, regain a sense of home, and continue supporting others who need it most.