Welcome back to our “Unsung Heroes” blog series as we continue our story about the people behind United Help Ukraine’s Smuha Family Resilience Project and the Ukrainian children and families they support. In our last blog, we highlighted the work of the unsung heroes at the Smuha facility in Ukraine, focusing on their efforts to address the needs of those traumatized by the war, particularly children and their families.

In this follow-up, photojournalist Allan Mestel shares his observations of the Smuha initiatives in action, witnessing the profound impact on children like German and Svyatoslav, who are under the care of Yuliya, today’s featured unsung hero.

Yuliya’s Dedication to Healing Ukraine’s Children

Yuliya was living in Kherson at the time of the full-scale invasion and was compelled to move due to heavy shelling. Today, she dedicates herself to helping children heal from their traumatic experiences living through a war. The Smuha project provides crucial mental health support and therapeutic activities, including toy and art therapy, offering safe spaces for children to reconnect with their childhood. Yuliya’s compassion for the children under her care and commitment to their future is both inspiring and essential for the healing process.

Yuliya embraces German, providing comfort during one of their therapy sessions.  

Allan observed several therapy sessions conducted by Yuliya, including one with a young boy named German. The young boy’s father, a soldier, had died at the beginning of the war—a loss that profoundly affected him and his family. German’s mother, overwhelmed by grief and depression after his father’s death, struggled to care for him. With the help of a psychologist and psychiatrist, she managed to overcome her depression but continues to work on her mental health. Allan remarked on what he learned that day, “She was unable to fully dedicate herself to caring for German during her depression due to her own emotional wounds, which left him without the complete support he needed. Now, with Yuliya’s help, they are both on a path to recovery.”

Allan was moved by German’s story as his lens captured the emotional journey of a boy trying to heal from the scars of war. Throughout his session with Yuliya, German was calm and fully engaged in his activities. The horrors of the war had escaped him, at least for the time being, as he returned to the normal activities for a child his age. Yuliya’s caring and patient manner was evident throughout the session—and she was clearly making a different in German’s life.

The second session that Allan observed involved an eight-year-old boy named Svyatoslav, who had endured the horrors of occupation in the Kyiv region. The trauma from explosions and shelling left him in a state of extreme tension, impacting his physical state and coordination. Yuliya has been working with Svyatoslav to help alleviate the physical stiffness in his body caused by his trauma before addressing his psychological state. The positive impact of this therapy was evident from the expression on Svyatoslav’s face as he moved from one activity to the next. He was enjoying his time with Yuliya and finding comfort in his safe space at the Smuha facility.

Allan remarked, “Watching Svyatoslav transform during his session with Yuliya was truly moving. Despite the deep trauma he endured from the occupation, I could see the tension melting away as he engaged in the activities. The joy and comfort on his face spoke volumes about the healing power of Yuliya‘s care and the safe haven provided by the Smuha facility.”

Although he’s made enormous progress, Svyatoslav, like many children at the Smuha facility, needs ongoing support and therapy. The unwavering dedication of unsung heroes like Yuliya will ensure that these children continue to make significant strides on their path to healing.

Support Yuliya’s Vital Work and the Smuha Initiative: A Lifeline for Ukraine’s Children

The work of medical professionals such as Yuliya is vital to the children of Ukraine, the most innocent victims of the war. The Smuha initiative is helping children like German and Svyatoslav deal with their trauma, enabling them to cope and overcome it for a better future. A donation for the Smuha Family Resilience Project and others like it is more than just a donation—it is a lifeline for Ukrainian children and parents coping during the war. Now more than ever, programs like this need support so we urge all readers to consider donating to United Help Ukraine. Below is information on how to donate.

Continuing the Journey with Unsung Heroes

Thank you for joining us on this journey. We invite you to continue visiting our blog as we feature more stories about Allan Mestel’s encounters with the Unsung Heroes and those they’re helping.

Photos courtesy of United Help Ukraine and Allan Mestel. Use of these images without prior written consent from United Help Ukraine and Allan Mestel is strictly prohibited.