A PLACE WHERE YOU DON’T HAVE TO EXPLAIN ANYTHING: WE’RE ALWAYS HERE TO SUPPORT YOU

In the most difficult moments, it all comes down to very simple things: is there someone to call when you’re scared, and is there a place where they’ll listen to you, pour you a cup of hot tea, and if needed - offer a warm blanket, medicine, and a little peace of mind.

With Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine underway and so much uncertainty, it’s important for each of us to have a space where we don’t have to justify ourselves, hide our profession, or explain why things are hard for us right now. Thanks to the “Solidarity in Action” project, there are more and more of these safe spaces. Today, our team is already working in 20 regions across Ukraine. We’re here to ensure that support is real for every woman in the community, and our doors are always open.

The warmth you feel

In times of blackouts and uncertainty, simple things take on special meaning, and a package of food or a power bank weighs much more than dozens of programs or strategies. We are convinced that for each of us, help begins with basic peace of mind. That is why being there for the community means giving a warm sweater when it’s cold at home, sending a lamp when it’s dark, or providing the assurance that there will be dinner on the table today.

Over the past six months, as part of the project, 750 women have received over two thousand packages from us containing food and hygiene supplies, as well as power banks, LED lamps, and warm clothing. For us, this is an opportunity to say, “We care about you,” and for the women, it’s a chance to feel that they are not alone.

“One of the most painful issues today is the rapid decline in economic opportunities and the growth of poverty, which has a distinct female face. We support women by providing food, hygiene kits, clothing, and more. The girls always look forward to this, because in the current conditions, such support is critical for survival,” - says Rose (Роза), leader of the initiative group in Zaporizhzhia city (Запоріжжя).

We know from our own experience that help only works when it is really needed, and not invented by someone “from above.” We don’t invent needs: we ask, we listen, and only then do we act. Every item we provide is the result of our conversation with the community. We are part of this community ourselves, so we feel every need as our own. We’re not here as charity workers, but as friends ready to lend a shoulder in the most difficult moment. This is our way of saying, “We’re here, and we’ll take care of each other.”

A place of strength and honest conversations

War is emotionally draining, and when problems pile up, the hardest part is the feeling of isolation. We know that sometimes just getting things off your chest is the first step toward healing. For many, our meetings and lines of communication have become such a place of sincerity.

Our mutual aid groups and Hotline are, above all, a space without judgment. Here, you can be vulnerable, you can cry or ask for help, knowing for sure that you will not be rejected.

Thanks to the project’s support, 100 mutual aid groups for our beneficiaries were held in 20 major cities. Women came together to experience common pain, share the consequences of stigma or violence, and lend each other a shoulder. At these meetings, the women worked together to find answers to the most important questions: how to protect their rights, take care of their health, and regain a sense of safety.

The story of one silence

At one of the mutual support groups, a young woman who usually remained silent suddenly asked, “Can I speak? I can’t stay silent anymore.” That day, she spoke for the first time about the violence she had experienced. She had hidden this pain for months because she was afraid of judgment, accusations, or simply being told, “It’s your own fault.”

“I just held her hand and kept telling her she wasn’t alone,” recalls group leader Iryna. Together, they found professionals to help her. Cases like this are the best proof of how important it is to have a place where you won’t be judged. We see how, over time, trust overcomes fear: the girls begin to open up more and finally allow themselves to ask for help.

Our Hotline operates every day and has become a “lifeline” for many. In the past six months, we have received 629 calls, and more than half of them involved providing deep psychological support to those who are on the verge. At such moments, it is important for a person to know that they are not alone, that we are here for them.

The “peer-to-peer” experience is especially valuable to us. 89 women received support from those who have already gone through similar difficulties and are ready to share their experiences without unnecessary explanations. We also helped to connect callers with trusted medical professionals, lawyers, and social services 223 times – in places where our community is treated with respect. Because no one understands better than someone walking the same path as you.

“During my time working on the Hotline, I’ve realized: one call can change everything. Sometimes, girls call us in utter despair, with distrust or even irritation, because they’re convinced that no one understands their problems. But when they hear, ‘I’ve been in that situation and I understand how you feel; if you’ll let me, I’ll share my experience,’—everything changes...

For me, this isn’t just counseling. These are conversations about life, work, our shared pain, and how to find a way out together. I’m not here to lecture, but to let them speak their minds, and then think together about what to do next. This opportunity to speak without fear of being judged - that is the foundation on which we help one another,” – notes Olena (Олена), counselor at the CO «Legalife-Ukraine» Hotline.

Women’s Leadership: Together We Become Stronger

We believe that real change begins when the community itself participates in decision-making. Every woman has the power not only to stand her ground but also to lead others. That is why we invest in building representation and advocacy: through this project, 35 women activists from different parts of the country, thanks to the project, have been trained to protect not only themselves, but also our entire community.

They are involved in making critically important decisions: from the local to the national level. Our representatives serve on HIV Coordination Councils (Координаційна рада з питань ВІЛ), where they work on prevention, humanitarian response, and combating violence. These are real steps toward ensuring that every woman feels safer in her city.

Since January 2026 alone, they have participated in 15 strategic meetings. Where we were previously overlooked, today our leaders confidently advocate for the right to medical and legal assistance without stigma or barriers. Because no one knows our needs better than we do.

“Representatives of our community must be involved in humanitarian planning and response. The principle of peer-to-peer support helps provide necessary assistance to the most vulnerable. In my opinion, it is the community itself that should determine the needs and the tools to meet those needs,” - said a training participant.

Changes That Can Be Measured

A true testament to the project’s success in driving systemic change was the advocacy victory in Poltava (Полтава). Our proposals were officially included in the Poltava Regional Council’s (Полтавська Обласна Рада) work plan for 2026. And at the beginning of the year, the region supported four key initiatives of the CO «Legalife-Ukraine» aimed at reducing stigma in hospitals, ensuring that members of our community have access to medical services without discrimination, and providing practical assistance to those who have suffered from violence.

Now, medical facilities in the region will implement standards for non-discriminatory care, and medical professionals and police officers will undergo special training to better understand our needs. This is another step toward making the system more humane.

Team of the CO “Legalife-Ukraine”

The “Solidarity in Action” project is implemented by the CO “LEGALIFE-UKRAINE” with technical support from UN Women in Ukraine and funding from the UN Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF). The WPHF is a flexible and rapid funding instrument that supports high-quality initiatives aimed at strengthening the capacity of local women to prevent conflicts, respond to crises and emergencies, and capitalize on key peacebuilding opportunities.

This publication was prepared with financial support from the United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF), but this does not imply that the views and content expressed herein are officially endorsed or recognized by the United Nations.