“You have to keep moving forward – even when you don’t have the strength”

A few years later, in 2019, she moved to Mariupol – the city by the Sea of Azov that would later become a symbol of Ukraine’s suffering. When the full-scale invasion began in the spring of 2022 and Mariupol was reduced to ruins, Kateryna was forced to flee once again. This time she sought refuge in Ivano-Frankivsk, in western Ukraine.

“The first time I fled, I didn’t know what to do. The second time I realized that you can’t just sit still. You have to go out, work, try to live – even when you don’t have the strength to face the world,” says Kateryna.

In Ivano-Frankivsk, Kateryna came into contact with IM’s partner organization D.O.M. 48.24, which supports displaced women through education and community. Thanks to their courses, Kateryna was able to gain new professional skills – and eventually find a job.

“I started out as a cashier, then worked in a hair salon. Now I work both as a hairdresser and an administrator at the beauty studio run by D.O.M. 48.24,” she says.

“The first period was tough. Working with people requires you to always be positive, and that was hard after everything I’d been through. But friends, exercise, faith in God, and hope for something better helped me find peace.”

Through D.O.M. 48.24, Kateryna has completed several courses in areas such as social media, design, and business management. She has also trained in eyebrow styling and wants to continue developing her skills.

“After being forced to leave your home, it’s important to find your way back into society and connect with people who understand. There is always someone who wants to help,” says Kateryna.

“But the hardest struggle is the one within – the longing for home, the grief over what you’ve lost. You have to face it, either on your own or with the help of a psychologist.”

Text and photo: Milena Vitrovska