Natalia Kondratovych

Natalia Kondratiovich lived in Kharkiv, where she spent her entire life working as a seamstress. She made women’s coats and sportswear. Creating beautiful things for women brought her true joy, and she lived for her work. But then the war came and took not only her beloved profession but also her peaceful and quiet life.

For the first two months, Mrs. Natalia hid from shelling in basements and bomb shelters. She only ventured out with her neighbors to cook food for herself and the volunteers who were constantly helping and supporting them. A shovel became an essential item in case the exit from the basement was blocked, so she never left it out of her sight.

“I am very grateful for the opportunity to live here. I feel at home. I have been able to calm down and feel safe. We are like a family here. But when I think about my past life and everything that I and my loved ones have been through, I cry… Very painful memories…”

When the opportunity arose, first to leave was her daughter Olga with her eight-year-old grandson Maxim, heading to the city of Sumy. But within a few days, the city was taken over by Russian soldiers, and her relatives found themselves under occupation. Natalia Ivanivna couldn’t sleep, overwhelmed with worry for her daughter and grandson, and under constant bombardment, she was in a constant state of psychological strain and stress.

The most terrifying moment for the family was the departure through the green corridor from the occupied city. Knowing that the occupiers were shooting at columns of cars, pulling people out, and assaulting women and girls, confiscating phones and equipment, Natalia Ivanivna waited in horror for any news from her daughter. It wasn’t until she found out that her loved ones had made it to the territory controlled by Ukraine that she was able to think about her own safety. Her daughter, through acquaintances, helped her leave Kharkiv. Eventually, she made it to our shelter in Vojniv.

Recovering from the stress and returning to a normal life is possible for Natalia Ivanivna with the help of the caring and open-hearted staff of the shelter, and also through painting pictures and creating diamond mosaics. The paintings she created now adorn the walls of the shelter and bring joy to both the residents and the workers.