“Here I’ve Found Friends…”
Eight-year-old Ariana and her family found support at the Resilience Centre in Mykolaiv and is learning to trust again, make friends, and dream about simple things.
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Despite her young age, Ariana has already endured more hardships than most adults. At the beginning of the full-scale war in 2022, her family evacuated from Mykolaiv. They spent several weeks in the Kherson region without electricity, water, gas, or any connection to the outside world. Then came evacuation under shelling, life as internally displaced persons, and the difficult decision to return home.
“I think there is no one left in Ukraine today who has not faced some kind of challenge because of the war. Our family’s situation, in particular, is a complex one”
When the family returned to Mykolaiv, they were faced with the challenge of rebuilding their lives. They also needed additional support for their daughter. Following an assessment at the Inclusive Resource Center, they learned that Ariana has special educational needs. They were advised to contact the Resilience Center.
“Like most people in my situation, I was skeptical at first. I thought they might not be able to help, or that our situation was not serious enough. But none of my concerns came true”
The family initially sought psychosocial and mental health support. Later, they learned that the Center offers comprehensive assistance. Today, Ariana works with Svitlana, a psychologist, and Maryna, a speech therapist, while also participating in group activities, art therapy sessions, and creative workshops with other children.
“What I like is that the specialists approach every child differently. I enjoy spending time with Maryna and Svitlana. We draw, make crafts, and do all kinds of activities. And I’ve made lots of friends here”
From first steps to visible changes
When Ariana first came to the center, it was difficult for her to interact with other children. Social worker Anna remembers those first meetings well.
“She was like a little hedgehog. During activities, she kept herself separate from the other children,” Anna recalls.
The centre supports Ariana with several services. Maryna works with her to improve her speech, reading, and writing skills, while Svitlana helps her improve concentration, planning, and anxiety management. Equally important are the group activities, where she learns how to interact with her peer
According to Svitlana, the first challenge was improving Ariana’s concentration, but socialization has been just as important.
“A child learns about life through interacting with others. A family provides a great deal, but children learn to understand other people’s emotions, develop empathy, and adapt to different situations when they are among their peers”
For Iryna, the results became noticeable fairly quickly. She says her daughter’s reading and writing skills have improved, her anxiety has decreased, and can focus better. But the biggest change has been in how Ariana interacts with others.
“During this time, Ariana has made many friends, not only at the centre but outside of it as well. She communicates much better with other children now and tries to support and help them. That was something I never expected, and it means so much to me”
A place where families can find the support they need
For families living in frontline regions, social services are vital to support their day-to-day needs and help them regain control of their lives. According to specialists at the Resilience Center, most requests for assistance are connected to the impact of the war on families: increased stress, loss of housing or employment, children’s learning difficulties, socialization challenges, or the need to access social services.
At the Resilience Center, families can receive free mental health and psychosocial support, and apply for social support services, consultations with specialists, and participate in both individual and group activities.
Iryna and Ariana have been going to the centre for about six months, three times a week.
“It has become our little family tradition. My first goal was to help my daughter, and I can see that this need has been met. Now I want to join the ‘Parenting Without Stress’ programme myself, so I can learn how to support my child even better.”
There is still much work ahead for the family, but Iryna now looks to the future with greater confidence. For Ariana, the Resilience Center remains a place where friends, engaging activities, and caring adults are always there to support her.
Behind every consultation, group session, and new friendship are real changes in the lives of families. For Ariana and her mother, the center has become more than just a source of support. It is a space where they are gradually rebuilding their lives and regaining hope for the future.
Resilience Center in Mykolaiv, like hundreds of other centers across Ukraine, provides services for children and families, helping them overcome challenges and recover. The Resilience Center in Mykolaiv operates in coordination with the Ministry of social policy, family and unity of Ukraine with the support of UNICEF and funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the KfW Development Bank.
