Nadiia Plishchenko is a volunteer and a teacher. When the full-scale war began, Nadiia was still walking on crutches after a severe injury. But instead of despair, she chose action. She recalls how on February 24, 2022, Bila Tserkva shuddered from the first explosions. Her mother-in-law turned 80 that very day — the anniversary was celebrated in a basement: “For two days I couldn’t speak, drink, or eat. I had to understand: how to go on living?”

The fear passed, and a sense of purpose emerged. Together with friends, Nadiia joined the volunteer association “Spilno – za myr.” They delivered aid to the liberated villages of the Chernihiv region — places no one else could reach. Later, Nadiia became the “voice” of volunteer fairs — a microphone, calls to action, 16 hours on her feet. “Our children are great patriots,” Nadiia says. “The most important thing for us is not to lose their faith. We have a future. We just need to stand up for it and protect it.”