“This is my home. I want to stay here and do my work right here,” — case manager of NGO “Girls” about the realities of working in the frontline city of Sumy

Anastasiia Tkachenko, case manager at NGO “Girls”, working in her office in the frontline city of Sumy, August 2025. Photo credit: NGO Girls /Denys Kryvopyshyn

From civil service to humanitarian work  

Anastasiia is a case manager at the NGO Girls. She works in Sumy with women and girls affected by gender-based violence (GBV) and war in Ukraine. Her confidence, dedication, and willingness to help demonstrate how women lead the humanitarian response to Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Anastasiia was born in Lebedyn and has lived all her life in the Sumy region. She graduated as a land management engineer and worked in civil service, cartography, and land development. But in 2022, when local and international organizations expanded work in the region, she decided to try case management. Having cooperated with the children’s services commission and completed trainings on GBV prevention, psychological first aid, and child protection, she was hired as a case manager.

This drastic career change was also shaped by personal experience of discrimination at her previous job. As a young mother of two, often caring for her sick son, she struggled to find affordable childcare and had to extend her maternity leave. “Because of this attitude at work, things got worse; my colleagues no longer respected me. Tasks that others didn’t want to do were given to me as punishment. When our office received new equipment, I heard from the manager: ‘Let’s see if Anastasiia deserves a new computer.’”

Now Anastasiia is much happier: “In my old profession, I felt very lonely. Now, working with women, I can guide them so they see that help is available and that they don’t have to confront all their challenges alone. When I help a woman, I feel like a superhero — even if it’s just informing her about services or referring her to other organizations.”

Living through the full-scale invasion

Anastasiia lives in Verkhnia Syrovatka near Sumy. On 24 February 2022, she woke to a phone call at 4 a.m. — the start of the full-scale invasion. She immediately packed essentials and went with her children to her parents’ village 60 kilometers away. “A column of tanks passed through my village. Fortunately, I didn’t see it because I left beforehand. But Russian planes flew above us, we heard explosions and fighting,” she recalls.

Many women with children evacuated there too, and quickly formed a support network, sharing medicines and hygiene products. By April 2022, Anastasiia returned home, though Sumy region remained under shelling. “We all feel emotional exhaustion. Every evening I pack our bags, thinking of leaving. But in the morning, I realize we survived the night. I kiss my children and go to work. This is my home, and I want to stay and do my work right here.”

Work helps her cope: “Even after a vacation, I felt true relief only when I returned to work. Supporting others gives me strength too.”

What it means to be a case manager

As part of the project Improving the safety, protection, and mental health of women and girls, as well as promoting their human rights — implemented with support from UN Women and funded by the governments of Sweden, Denmark, Latvia and UN Women National Committees across the world — Anastasiia provides psychological first aid, referrals, and assistance packages.  

“Very often, we provide psychological first aid because the stories women share are hard to relive. You have to adapt to each person, calm her, and help her reach a more stable emotional state.”

Anastasiia Tkachenko, case manager at NGO “Girls,” during a conversation with a beneficiary in Sumy, August 2025. Photo: NGO “Girls” / Denys Kryvopyshyn

Every completed step of a support plan motivates her. Recently, she helped a woman with mine injuries obtain official war victim status — something the woman didn’t know she was entitled to. Still, some cases remain heartbreaking. She recalls a woman whose sister was killed when their house was hit. Two months later, the sister’s body remains in the war zone, impossible to retrieve for burial.

Barriers to seeking help remain high. Many women are unaware of available services; others lack documents. “For example, women whose homes are destroyed often cannot get housing loss certificates, as no one can inspect those areas. Many affected people simply don’t know where to start.” She also cites a woman who lost a hand but could not receive assistance because her community wasn’t on the official combat zone list. “All we can do is refer her to other organizations. Right now, I’m actively searching for who else can help her.”

After difficult days, Anastasiia relies on her psychologist, family, and rest. “Without psychological help, I couldn’t handle it all. Sometimes you just need to sleep. Recently, I came home and let myself nap for 15 minutes — it made all the difference.”

Pride in her work and resilience of Ukrainians

“I remember every story with pride and warmth, but the latest one truly touched me. Today, a beneficiary brought receipts to report on the aid she received. I asked if she would mind sharing her story — and to my surprise, she was delighted. She said she never imagined anyone would want to write about her case, and even offered to write it herself.

She told me she hadn’t known about our work until she noticed a banner on the street and came to ask who we are and what we do. It turned out she had a mine-explosive injury and met the project’s criteria. I registered her and connected her with a lawyer and a psychologist. And now, together, we’re writing a success story.”  

Working in the project, Anastasiia says, has taught her to respect others’ choices more deeply. Every case is unique, and every woman makes her own decisions. “I’ve noticed this mindset influencing my personal life as well,” she says. “My ‘previous version’ can be proud that today I have found myself.”  

Anastasiia speaks warmly of every beneficiary she has supported — each story is special, even after years of work. With growing danger in Sumy region, she has seen requests for help increase sharply. To anyone hesitant to reach out, she urges: “Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Every question has an answer. People may doubt whether their questions are appropriate or think their problems don’t matter. But there are very few problems that can’t be solved. Your solution may already be here — right now. The main thing is to be decisive and not face your situation alone.”

Her message to the world about Ukraine is clear: “We need more help for the most vulnerable groups because sometimes what we have is not enough. Despite living under shelling, we remain strong, unbreakable, and committed to helping those who need it.”

This publication was prepared within the project “Improving the safety, protection, and mental health of women and girls, as well as promoting their human rights,” implemented by NGO “Girls” with technical support from UN Women Ukraine and funded by the governments of Sweden, Denmark, Latvia and UN Women National Committees across the world.

The views and opinions expressed are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect those of UN Women, organizations, or donors supporting the project.