Helping people in Ukraine despite all the challenges

RRM support focuses on the provision of cash assistance. In addition to our efforts at the Pavlohrad Transitional Centre for displaced persons, we expanded our rapid response operations to several other oblasts, helping those affected by sudden shelling. We also provided hygiene kits to families and people with special needs, access to safe drinking water, and emergency shelter materials to support displaced people and those affected by attacks.

We continue to repair damaged housing and provide financial support for reconstruction. Renovations were completed in 3 hospitals, while recovery work continues in another 30 medical facilities. As part of our energy initiatives, we installed the ninth solar power station to ensure continued access to water in affected communities, even during blackouts in Sumy Oblast. Additionally, we delivered fuel briquettes to households. In addition, we completed the first phase of district heating rehabilitation, restoring boiler houses and heating networks in several oblasts.

In education, we launched two new studies: one focused on understanding problems impacting social cohesion in school communities, and the other on assessing the impact of psychosocial support on children's cognitive development. We are also developing a new teacher training course on inclusive education and finalising a manual to enhance teachers' tutoring skills. 

PIN also finalised the repair and equipping of 16 school shelters and temporary learning spaces in 3 oblasts for improved safety of children and teachers in the face of ongoing attacks, in addition to our work supporting catch-up classes.

We continue providing psychosocial support to children and adults through mobile psychological teams and our 24/7 hotline. Our specialists have been working directly in areas affected by shelling, including Kryvyi Rih, Zaporizhzhia, and other cities, and training teachers, social workers, and civil society organisations to provide psychological first aid.

We firmly believe in the need for collaboration. Thus, we co-founded and co-chair the renewable energy technical working group within the WASH cluster. We are a member of the Steering Committee of the Help Localisation Facility (HLF), a German CSO. Our colleagues have served as speakers and moderators at many key events. Furthermore, we organised an event in the European Parliament to raise awareness of Ukraine's ongoing humanitarian challenges and needs.

Despite the many challenges, we remain committed to supporting affected people and helping communities grow stronger.

Highlights in photos

People instead of numbers

Iryna's life was forever changed when war tore her away from the village in Kharkiv Oblast, where she had spent the happiest years of her life. When volunteers evacuated her from the shelling, she still held onto hope that she would one day return. But the stress and anxiety of the situation took a toll on her health, and her chronic illnesses worsened. Eventually, Iryna underwent a leg amputation. "My village is in ruins. I have nowhere to return to," she says. Now, Iryna lives in a collective centre for displaced persons in Dnipro. We provided Iryna with financial assistance so she could buy medicine and food. We've also delivered hygiene kits, heaters, mattresses, and bedding to the collective centre where she lives. Many residents here are elderly, and like Iryna, they need constant care and support as they rebuild their lives.

Liubov never throws away stale bread. Piece by piece, she carefully dries it and gently places it into a bag. The fear of occupation and hunger will now haunt her forever. When Russian forces occupied Olizarivka, Lyubov and her husband, Serhii, like the rest of their fellow villagers, were left without a crumb of fresh bread. For over a month, people survived on canned food and the last of their supplies. "When the first humanitarian organisations arrived, they brought us bread. We couldn't get enough of it. It was so delicious," Liubov recalls. The village suffered significant destruction. Liubov and Serhii's home was also damaged - all the windows and doors were blown out. We helped the couple restore their house, and they describe this support as invaluable.

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Roman left everything behind to defend his country. Even while stationed in one of the hottest spots on the front line - Bakhmut - he continued to paint. "Before bed, I would always draw. It helped me relax and take my mind off things," he recalls. After demobilisation, Roman returned to his passion - tattooing. He registered as an entrepreneur and joined our veteran support program, Courage to Business. He received training and a grant to develop his business through the programme. Roman also plans to create a small art space in his studio to showcase works by various artists. He knows firsthand the powerful healing effect of art 

When a missile blast shattered the windows in Maria's home, she experienced severe stress and nearly lost her voice. She was forced to move to a care home for older people, which, after the full-scale invasion, also became a collective shelter for people who had lost their homes due to the war. There, Maria found peace and her partner, Volodymyr, whom she later married. We replaced windows in several buildings to make life more comfortable and warm for the couple and other residents. We delivered furniture, laundry, and bathroom equipment. We also provided the facility with medical equipment essential for the t r e a t m e n t and rehabilitation of its residents. This support helps people feel safe and needed once again.