Smal Family Needs A Home

Svitlana, age 38, lived in a peaceful village with her daughter Maria, age 15, and sons Daniel, age 8, and Bohdan, age 7. On February 24, 2022, the family didn’t sleep all night because there was shelling happening near them. Svitlana realized the war had started but didn’t think the Russians would hit residential buildings so she wasn’t in a hurry to leave. She decided to leave when she realized the Russians were firing at everything and everyone. Unfortunately, the public transportation system was no longer running. The village was left without electricity and communication so there was no way to call for help. Svitlana distributed all the food she had among her children. She didn’t eat anything because she didn’t realize how long she would have to wait to find more food. She took her kids through the village to a neighbor’s house but everything around them started to burn and her children were scared. While the family hid in a cellar for two months the children began to get very sick due to dampness and cold. When Russian snipers discovered the family they immediately started harassing Svitlana and her children. They mocked them and shot near them so they would hear the whistle of the bullets going by. Svitlana knew they had to get out of the village and they were miraculously saved by volunteers who helped them escape. They are currently living in Zmiiv where they rent a place to live with money they receive from the government. Her children dream of peace and want to return to their village to study at school.