Olena (name changed) and her young children endured domestic violence for years at the hands of her husband, who struggled with alcohol and drug addiction. Without a home of her own, she was forced to seek temporary shelter with acquaintances, often spending nights in unfamiliar houses where she was only allowed to stay for a few days. The constant fear, lack of food, hygiene products, and inability to meet her children’s basic needs pushed her to seek help.
When Olena learned about the work of the Psychosocial support mobile team, she made the courageous decision to take the first step toward a safer future for herself and her children. Specialists provided her with psychological support, helped stabilize her emotional state, and developed an action plan to help her escape the crisis. Thanks to the involvement of donors, her family received humanitarian and material assistance and was referred to a rehabilitation center in the region, where she could recover and receive the necessary support.
Today, Olena and her children are safe. She has endured many hardships, having grown up without parental care. However, despite her difficult childhood, she refused to give up and continues to fight for a better future for her children.
"Violence can harm your faith and strength, and it can shatter self-belief and hope for the future. But no one should face it alone. Support from specialists not only helps survivors overcome crisis situations but also empowers them to find new opportunities for a life free from fear," says a psychologist with the Psychosocial support mobile team in Kalush.
Olena not only transformed her own life but also became an example that there is always a way out, even when every door seems closed. She has proven that breaking the cycle of violence is possible — all it takes is the courage to take the first step.
There are 87 Psychosocial support mobile teams operating in Ukraine. These teams provide free psychosocial support to people regardless of gender or residency status, serving both local community members and internally displaced persons. The key advantage of these teams is their mobility. They can respond quickly and effectively to requests for help, enabling the timely identification of violence cases, providing psychosocial support to those in need, and referring individuals to other services when necessary.
Mobile Support Teams operate with the support of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, in coordination with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine.
The operation of the Mobile Support Team in Kalush is made possible through the financial support of the Republic of Korea, implemented by the NGO “Butterfly”.
