Hope away home: Ukrainian mother and son find beacon of hope amidst the crisis
In a war-torn city, Tetyana and her son Vladyslav struggle to find solace amidst the chaos. Together, they embark on a journey of healing, stitching resilience through art, love, and the pursuit of dreams.
When I entered the room, I saw an incredibly creative space with lots of drawings, oils, watercolors, and embroidered crafts. In complete silence, a woman was painting a picture - Tetyana Megmbey.
“I used to make exhibitions with my paints. It was my whole life. Unfortunately, the war took away this opportunity from me, but I try not to forget it. I had a successful career at home, everyone knew me because of my work,” recalls Tetyana.
Together with her nine-year-old son Vladyslav, Tetyana had to flee her hometown in the Luhansk region when the full-scale war started in Ukraine. As the situation escalated and the sound of gunfire echoed through the air, the woman wanted to save her child from the devastating consequences.
“I woke up to the loud explosion next to our apartment. I couldn’t understand what was happening. I remember my son’s eyes… He was scared as well. He didn't need any explanations once he saw military equipment on the road,” says Tetyana.
The mother and her son managed to find a safe place in an IDP shelter in Dnipro. According to the OCHA report, they are one of the 5,4 million Ukrainians who have been displaced within the country.
Living in the shelter they can receive both legal and psychological support provided by the Multidisciplinary Mobile Team (MMT) from World Vision’s partner HealthRight Ukraine. This support was possible thanks to our donors - USAID’s Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), Ukraine Response Consortium, and ACTED Ukraine.
“I really love being here, in this shelter. If I don’t hear explosions, I am calm and happy. I also like the support we receive from the HealthRight team. Today we are drawing with other displaced children,” tells nine-year-old Vladyslav.
According to Tetyana, the violence and destruction had left them traumatized. Recognizing the impact of the conflict on Vladyslav's well-being, MMT’s psychologists began working with him. For five long months, they helped him cope with nightmares, sleepless nights, and withdrawal from social activities.
I continue to do what I love. It helps me deal with challenges in this difficult time.
“Unfortunately, I couldn’t help my son as I was fighting with my depression as well. Both of us needed help. For a long time, I tried to understand why this disastrous war had started,” explains the displaced woman.
Slowly, positive changes started to emerge. Vladyslav's screams subsided, he began sleeping peacefully, and his once-closed behavior started to open up. The process with the psychologists became something Vladyslav enjoyed.
Tetyana, too, sought help from the psychologists and engaged in individual conversations that alleviated her depression. They taught her breathing exercises, encouraged outdoor walks, and she rekindled her love for beadwork and cross-stitching, finding solace in her hobbies.
“I continue to do what I love. It helps me deal with challenges in this difficult time,” assumes Tetyana.
In the face of adversity, World Vision and HealthRight's presence have been a beacon of hope for Tetyana and Vladyslav, reminding them that they are not alone in their journey toward healing and rebuilding.
“Hundreds of thousands of displaced people still need help. The story of Tatyana and Vladyslav shows how important it is to support each other in the darkest times. It is important to always hope for the best,” says Tetyana Mamysheva, who works as Partnership Implementation Coordinator at World Vision.
Tetyana's unwavering dedication to her son's well-being and their shared dreams for a better future reflect their strength and tenacity. Like all displaced Ukrainians, they dream of returning to their hometown one day.
Story and photos by Oleksandra Shapkina, Communications Officer