This is the story of Liudmyla Kuzmenko from Kherson — about loss, war, and the strength of communities.

Before the full-scale invasion, Ms. Liudmyla was a driving force in Kherson’s civil society sector. A professor, vice-rector, head of the coordinating committee of the Participatory Budget, she developed educational and social initiatives and headed the NGO Global View. With her team, she implemented innovative ideas in the city, developed student communities, and believed in the power of an active society.

February 24, 2022 changed everything. Kherson was occupied by the russians. She didn’t leave right away. But fear for herself, for her loved ones, and the awareness of danger — made her flee. "260 kilometers took us 16 hours," she says. They left Kherson in three cars, passed through checkpoints, the grey zone, enemy shelling.

It was here, in Zhytomyr region, that Liudmyla resumed the work of Global View. The NGO was reborn — now it works with women in vulnerable categories: IDPs, mothers, volunteers. Here they hold workshops, trainings, psychological meetings, mutual support initiatives — “Coffee with Friends”, art therapy, learning. They are not only stitching together what the war has torn apart — they are creating a space for new meanings. 

"We submitted an application to help 10 families set up their homes. Mostly they are from Kherson, but also from Donetsk region, Kharkiv region. Here everyone is equal. We created the hub ‘Nezlamna_Ya (Unbreakable_I)’ — together with the city council," Liudmyla says.

Her home in Kherson was looted. The house on the occupied Left Bank was flooded or burned down. But losing her home did not mean losing herself.

The war took away a lot. But it left the most important thing — the ability to act. To support. To unite. And to believe. "I dream of returning. For my birthday. In November. But for now — it’s not working out. Still, I keep dreaming...”