Amidst war in Ukraine and poverty, World Vision’s cash program shines as a silver lining for single mom Maria and children

"It’s just us - my children Ivanka, Mariya, and Gennadiy, and my father. This house was given to us by the post office when my father retired. But it became not a gift, but a struggle,” Maria says, her voice tinged with weariness. 

The sagging foundation of the house, its walls plagued with mold, and drafty windows succumbed to winds of winter, leaving dampness in their wake. 

“The constant chill has taken its toll on the children, who often get sick. I wish I could just fix one room and insulate it for the cold months”, shares Maria.

In the poverty-stricken region of Synevir in Ukraine, Maria has been raising her three children and caring for her elderly father since her husband’s passing nine years ago. Their home, once a modest comfort, is now a fragile shell—its crumbling walls and rotting floors a daily reminder of the uphill battle they face.

Her father, Ivan, now 74, helps when he can, but age has worn down his once able body. "I feel useless sometimes," he admits sadly. "The land, the house, it all needs work, but neither Maria nor I can manage on our own."

Often the family must hire help, even for simple things like chopping firewood for the winter. Maria bears the weight of physical limitations after her heart surgery. The little pension she receives is stretched thin across the growing needs of her family. 

When the war broke out, even that meager assistance became inconsistent, leaving her without any sense of security. Maria creates beautiful, embroidered paintings and sells them online, though income is slow and insufficient. "It’s not much, but it’s something," she says. 

"With this cash assistance, we installed running water in the house, bought a washing machine and managed to have the children’s dental problems checked. I am so grateful we could get them the treatment."

The mountainous region of Synevir, where her family lives, is 87% subsidized by the government, and Maria’s community is caught in a cycle of poverty with few opportunities for work. 

“One in six people here needs assistance,” explains Ivan Chup, the head of the Synevir community with a population of 6,800 people, majority are children. The infrastructure and communication are poor, no railroad and bus service, making it a dead-end location.

While the local authorities try to do their best to develop the region, people need additional assistance. “We rely on aid.  People apply for a subsidy, but often the help doesn’t come. The people try to spread the resources to help the families in need, there is never enough.”

Maria’s family received World Vision’s assistance through the cash program funded by Aktion Deutschland Hilft (ADH) in Ukraine. She was happy.

“With this cash assistance, we installed running water in the house, bought a washing machine and managed to have the children’s dental problems checked. I am so grateful we could get them the treatment,” Maria says.

Maria’s children are her source of strength and joy. Ivanka, 10, Mariya, 11, and Gennadiy, 13, love going to school, where they thrive despite the challenges they face at home. 

She says, “They are my world. They’re the light in this otherwise heavy life. I dream of them finishing school, going on to college, and building a life far beyond these struggling walls. I want them to have a future.”

In the warmth of her children’s laughter, the cold, crumbling house feels a little less oppressive. Maria clings to the hope that better days lie ahead—not for herself, but for the bright futures she envisions for her children.

Story by Ukraine Communications Officer Anna Lukianenko I Photos by UCR Advocacy and Communications Manager Laurentia Jora