"You are not just helping us, you are supporting us emotionally": Alla's story from Sumy region

Alla Ordynets from Sumy region, a primary school teacher supporting her family after displacement caused by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Photo: Personal archive of Alla 

Before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Alla Ordynets lived with her family in a village in Sumy region. She worked as a primary school teacher, took care of the garden and made her house a home. The war forced her to leave everything behind and move to Sumy.

"We left with just two bags," Alla recalls. "My husband, the children, my mother... My mother's house is almost destroyed. Ours too. We were left with nothing, without a home, without savings, without the life we had been building for years. But thanks to kind people in Sumy, we found a place to stay."

Alla's husband is now serving in the military. She admits that this brings additional anxiety, but at the same time gives her a sense of pride and understanding of what she needs to stay strong for. Alla has taken on the responsibility of caring for the children and her mother, works remotely as a teacher and tries to maintain a sense of calm and stability for her family. Work helps her not only to hold on emotionally, but also to keep a sense of purpose. She shares that communication with her students and support for their families gives strength to her as well.

Life in the city is not easy for Alla Ordynets. After being used to a rural lifestyle, it is difficult for her to get used to living in an apartment. She says she feels like "a flower without roots", because she had to leave everything that felt like home.

Alla learned about the possibility of receiving a dignity kit, provided by NGO Girls in partnership with UN Women Ukraine, by chance in one of the Telegram channels for internally displaced persons. She says this support became an important source of strength during a difficult period. The kit included personal hygiene items, underwear, care products, as well as items for safety and comfort, such as a whistle and a portable flashlight. The high-quality and essential items were useful for Alla herself, her mother and her daughters.

Alla Ordynets stresses that such assistance not only eases everyday difficulties but also gives a feeling of care: people who have left their homes because of the war understand that they have not been forgotten.

She feels grateful to NGO "Girls" and UN Women Ukraine for their attention and kindness: "You are not just helping us, you are supporting us emotionally. The girls who were distributing the kits were very kind and welcoming. The feeling that someone cares about you and is happy to see you is very inspiring."

In the most difficult moments, Alla Ordynets draws strength from her family and the work she loves. Her main message to other women is to support their loved ones and not lose hope: "Support your family members, especially those who are far away. And find something you love to do, something that brings you calm and helps you feel like yourself again. Do not live by the news alone. Do something that helps you not to give up."

Despite all her losses, Alla remains strong. Her story shows how love, family and caring people can help restore faith in light even in the midst of darkness.  

This humanitarian assistance is part of the project “Enhancing the safety, security and mental health of women and girls, as well as advancing their rights”, implemented by UN Women in cooperation with NGO Girls.

It is financially supported by the Governments of Sweden, Denmark, and Latvia, the UN Women National Committees. The project also receives support from UN Women through the Emergency Funding Mechanism (EFM) – a flexible, replenishable, revolving fund that allows resources to be rapidly allocated in the immediate aftermath of sudden-onset crises or peaks in protracted crises.

The views and opinions expressed in the text are those of the individuals featured and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of UN Women, the supporting organizations, or the donors involved in the project.