Vira Dehtiariova, Kyiv: “It gives people hope”

Vira Dehtiariova is someone for whom helping others has long been a part of life. By profession, she is a civil engineer. She worked at the Ukrainian Red Cross for over 16 years and has been involved with the organisation in various ways for more than two decades.

Even after finishing her formal employment, Vira admits she has always been — and continues to be — a volunteer.

She recalls her time with the organisation with warmth and respect. She worked around the clock at the reception, answering calls — particularly intense after 2014, when many people sought assistance. For her, it was not just a job — it was an opportunity to be there for those who needed support.

Helping the residents of the building she lives in also holds a special place in her life. As head of the residents’ committee, Vira looks after people with limited mobility, those who require constant care, and neighbours living alone, while keeping them informed about available assistance. When a Ukrainian Red Cross heating point with hot meals opened nearby, she was the first to spread the word to surrounding homes.

For Vira, it is important that people know there is an organisation they can trust.

“It’s one thing when a single person helps, and quite another when the Ukrainian Red Cross is there. It gives people hope,” she says.