The power of a child's heart: the story of a girl from Volyn who lives with her grandmother

At just 15 years old, Iryna (her name is changed for ethical reasons) has already felt the pain of losing her closest family members. Her parents have left this world, so now the girl lives with her 87-year-old grandmother in a small village on Volyn.

Iryna has a quiet, calm demeanor; her eyes are sad, often downcast, but very deep. When she hears the sound of airplanes, her anxiety and fear intensify. But Iryna is incredibly strong, never shows that she is worried about anything, studies diligently, helps her grandmother, and believes in the best.

Caritas-Spes Lutsk, upon hearing Iryna’s story, decided to support her family. To ease their daily life, Iryna and her grandmother received food and hygiene kits, as well as a warm blanket for comfort on winter nights.

Material goods are an important part of the support, but the main value for Caritas-Spes is communication with the person, restoring hope and a sense of love, support, and warmth. So we invited her to our children friendly space, where she began to open up, make new friends, and overcome feelings of isolation.

We sincerely believe that a great future awaits Iryna, and we hope that in our Caritas center, she will find the necessary support for her achievements and accomplishments. Iryna's story is inspiring and amazing, showing how strong children's hearts can be.