Support Families in Ukraine and Worldwide

Tetiana is a 69-year-old Ukrainian woman who lives with her husband in the Zaporizhzhia Oblast and has participated in the International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) digital literacy sessions. Although she only owns a small flip phone and an old tablet, Tetiana decided to learn new digital skills. However, like many displaced older adults, she faces challenges that go beyond mastering technology.

Tetiana and her husband were displaced from their home during the war in Ukraine, arriving in Zaporizhzhia two years ago with little more than the clothes on their backs. “We came with just one bag,” she recalls. "We needed bedding, which we altered, and clothes that we also altered."

With limited resources, Tetiana turned to her lifelong skills of sewing and knitting to make the most of what they had. Using only her hands, as she no longer has access to a sewing machine, Tetiana repurposes items, creating pillowcases from skirts and duvet covers from sheets. Her ingenuity has helped her and her husband adapt to their new life, but the loss of home and familiarity weighs heavily on her. "Everything seems normal, we have housing, but it’s not home. Old people should be at home."

Her skills in sewing and knitting have been a source of calm for her, as she reflects, “Sewing and knitting are calming. I knitted some small rugs.” Tetiana’s love for these crafts has been a constant throughout her life, a skill she’s nurtured for over 50 years. She sews and knits not only to meet her family’s needs, but also as a form of emotional resilience.

For Tetiana, the IRC’s digital literacy sessions have provided a different kind of outlet—one that connects her to the modern world, while helping her stay in touch with loved ones. Though she admits she was initially hesitant about participating, she was encouraged by her friends and intrigued by the opportunity. “Well, it’s interesting. It’s interesting, engaging. I like it,” she explains with a smile, highlighting the joy she’s found in the learning process. The digital literacy lessons, taught by Oleh and Lilia, have been particularly impactful for her. “Both Oleh and Lilia explain things in an accessible way,” she added.

While Tetiana owns a flip phone and a tablet, she isn’t certain she’ll upgrade to newer technology. “The thing is, we have a tablet at home that the children gave us. But it’s very old. I have some skills and understanding, but everything is okay.” For her, it’s less about acquiring the latest device and more about staying connected with the people who matter most. Tetiana admits that video calls aren’t a priority right now. “We don’t have a camera. The tablet is old, probably 10 years old. The main thing is to hear from them. That they’re alive, that’s the main thing. Everyone is alive. And that you’re all alive,” she says.

The sense of community Tetiana found in Zaporizhzhia has been another crucial aspect of her resilience. Many of her friends from Hulyaipole, a nearby village, have also been displaced, and they meet regularly to support one another. “Yes, we meet, support each other, and share humanitarian aid when it’s available. We call each other,” she says, describing the informal network of displaced people who have banded together in this time of need. Although some of her friends have moved on, the connections Tetiana has maintained provide her with a sense of belonging in a place that doesn’t feel like home.

The IRC’s efforts to help people like Tetiana go beyond digital literacy. By providing a space where displaced individuals can learn new skills and connect with others, the IRC helps foster a sense of agency and community in a time of profound disruption. For Tetiana, the sessions are a welcome distraction from the hardships of displacement. “It’s useful, of course. Everything is useful; learning is useful. It doesn’t matter how old you are,” she says.

Yet, beneath her positive outlook lies a deep sense of loss and dislocation. When asked whether her life has improved over the past two years, Tetiana is candid: “No, we’re safe, but you know, there’s a saying, you can’t move an old person to another place. You need to take care of the elderly where they live. It’s very hard to adapt.” For older adults like Tetiana, displacement isn’t just a physical challenge—it’s an emotional and psychological one. She and her husband may have found safety in Zaporizhzhia, but for her, nothing can replace the feeling of being home.

How is the IRC supporting the most war-affected regions of Ukraine?

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has been at the forefront of providing critical humanitarian assistance to the most war-affected regions of Ukraine, particularly in the east and southeast, including Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Donbas.

By partnering with local organizations and operating out of its offices in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Odesa, the IRC has reached over 614,000 people by January 2024. This includes vital psychosocial support, women and girls’ safe spaces, and healthcare services provided by IRC mobile units, which have conducted over 25,000 medical consultations, benefiting 8,000 clients. Additionally, the IRC has supported 68 health facilities with essential medical supplies and equipment.

The IRC has also delivered shelter kits, including household repair materials, gas stoves, warm clothing, blankets, hygiene items, and dignity kits, to over 204,000 individuals. Moreover, the IRC's financial assistance programs have benefited 139,000 people, helping vulnerable families cover their basic needs in the face of ongoing conflict. In response to immediate post-attack needs, IRC's rapid response teams have been deployed to address complex crises in Kharkiv and Dnipro regions. The organization continues to provide essential protection services, including Safe Healing and Learning Spaces for children, gender-based violence services, women’s centers, legal assistance, and comprehensive health support.

When the war in Ukraine escalated in February 2022, Oleksandr’s role as a grandfather took on an urgent importance.His son-in-law was hospitalized with a lung thrombus, keeping his daughter by his side. Meanwhile, Odesa faced bombings, and Kherson, the adjacent region, was already under occupation. 

Oleksandr remembers discussing how they could best protect their two children with his daughter and son-in-law. As a disabled veteran and Chernobyl survivor, Oleksandr wouldn’t be drafted into the army and could leave Ukraine. “The question arose of how to evacuate the children from under the bombs, who could do it. They couldn't. They said: ‘Grandpa, you could,’” he recalls. Oleksandr couldn't bear the thought of leaving his homeland and family behind, but he knew he had a rare chance at getting his grandchildren to safety. “I didn't plan to leave. But as they said, if something happens to the children, and you could have prevented it and didn't, what will be…” 

Fleeing across borders 

At first, Oleksandr and his wife brought their two grandchildren to Moldova, hoping for a swift end to the war. However, with escalating conflict, a friend residing in Italy advised them to join her there instead.Having to travel across several borders and checkpoints to reach Italy, Oleksandr printed a sign to put in the car window, pleading ‘DON’T SHOOT, CHILDREN.’  

“I think the sign played a role in being allowed through borders everywhere,” he says. “We came from Moldova to Romania. In Romania at the border, volunteers were already standing. They immediately gave us a SIM card to communicate by phone.” Oleksandr, his wife and their grandchildren came across many people during their journey, including another family who joined them in their car. “Everyone in the car was packed tightly like sardines,” he recalls. “We spent nights at gas stations. And the money we had was about five hundred dollars. And I managed with that money until Slovenia.” During his journey, Oleksandr was touched by the compassion and generosity of unfamiliar faces. While in Slovenia, a volunteer fluent in Ukrainian escorted them to a hostel and offered 100 euros to help refuel their car. In Italy, a person saw their Ukrainian license plates and also offered to pay for their gas. 

Fighting to stay together 

Once they arrived in Italy, Oleksandr and his family soon encountered obstacles. After spending one night in a monastery, they were taken to a collection point, where they underwent medical examinations and were accommodated by the civil defense. As they went to register for permits at the immigration center, the border officials were resistant to providing permits for the children.Although Oleksandr possessed all the necessary documents authorized by their mother to look after Sasha and Natasha, these papers were not considered valid in Italy. “They said "no" to the children. I asked, ‘How? Here's the power of attorney, the children are with us. I'm their grandfather.”  

However, Oleksandr was informed that they do not recognize grandparents as legitimate caregivers and that the documentation would have to be transferred to a different organization.Physically and mentally drained, the family discovered a hotel in Rome offering free accommodation to Ukrainian refugees. Oleksandr and his wife began a grueling six-month process, involving several court hearings, to prevent their grandchildren from being taken from them and put in an Italian orphanage. “Every day we would worry that they would come today and take the children,” Oleksandr says. 

Assisted by case workers from another organization, he obtained legal assistance, including lawyers. Oleksandr reminisces about appearing before the guardianship council and a tribunal with his wife, where they collaborated with a lawyer to present their family's circumstances to a judge. Thankfully, with the help of volunteers throughout, the grandparents were able to convince the judge that they should be allowed to take care of the children. 

Trying to make Italy a home 

With Oleksandr's daughter now in Italy, they are actively pursuing the transfer of guardianship to her, adding another layer of complexity to the already challenging legal procedures. “We turned to the IRC and they found us a pro bono lawyer. The lawyer prepared all the documents again and submitted them again.” Oleksandr continues to reside in a hotel room with his wife and children, where the IRC has provided extensive support to the family, such as assisting with finding after-school activities for the kids and providing Oleksandr with a list of medical professionals to address his healthcare needs. 

Despite enduring numerous challenges, Oleksandr and his family have established a weekly routine that they follow together. He takes great joy in his role as a grandfather, accompanying his grandson, Sasha, to football practices and ensuring both children attend swimming lessons. Additionally, he assists them in their online studies with a Ukrainian school to help ensure that they don’t forget the Ukrainian language. “We do everything. We walk with them in the playground, on weekends we go with them to the sea,” he explains. Yet, they persist in longing for home, diligently checking the news on Ukraine daily, anxiously awaiting updates on whether their house remains intact or has fallen victim to bombings. 

How is the IRC supporting refugees in Italy? 

The IRC has been providing direct support to refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants in Italy who are facing immense hurdles in the integration process. Since 2019, the IRC has been working with local organizations, national authorities, and institutions to improve the asylum system and humanitarian conditions in Italy. 

With services in Milan, Turin, Trieste, Rome and Palermo, the IRC in Italy works around the clock to ensure rights are protected, women and girls are safe from harm and people on the move can meet their basic needs. Thank you for your continued support for the IRC and the people we serve.