Psychosocial Support Classes for Children in Nikopol

Iryna Sereda is working with young residents of Nikopol, a woman whose once stable life — like that of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians — was disrupted by the full-scale war.

Iryna is originally from Nikopol but moved to Mariupol more than 30 years ago. She fell in love with Mariupol and made it her home. Iryna was there at the outset of the war. Until the very last moment, she hesitated to leave. She recalls how her family hid in the basement of their house, seeking shelter from explosions and airstrikes. It was only when the drama theatre was bombed that her children convinced her to evacuate. This loss was a personal tragedy that Iryna took very hard.

After returning to Nikopol, Iryna began volunteering and joined the Ukrainian Red Cross. When the occupiers left the city without water following the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station, she took responsibility for distributing drinking water and humanitarian aid. Later, she began working with children.

Such creative activities are organised every week. During the winter holidays, the children’s crafts often focus on New Year’s themes. Parents are thrilled with the organisation’s initiatives. They bring their children during moments of calm between air raids and shelling to offer them a distraction from the horrors of war.

Iryna’s greatest dream is to return to a peaceful life and see Mariupol restored.

When the enemy steals a peaceful childhood from children, adults do everything in their power to protect the next generation from the horrors of war.

To register for psychosocial support classes, please call the Nikopol city-district branch of the Ukrainian Red Cross at 093 517 30 53.

Article by: Прихист.