The hardest part is when it comes to children
Interview with Ukrainian social worker Yuliia
Amid an ongoing war, it is hard to plan anything. Social worker Yuliia supports the families and children affected by the armed conflict. Yuliia: ”We have something planned, but then we get an urgent call.”
On the border with Hungary and Slovakia, in Zakarpattia, works Yuliia Makar: “We come to work in the morning, drink a coffee and plan our day. But when we receive an urgent call to take care of an abandoned child, we need to act immediately.”
A touching family tragedy
The hardest part of Yuliia’s work is when it comes to children. Many of her patients are abandoned, neglected or lost their parents during the war. Like the family Yuliia is supporting now.
“We support a family fleeing Mariupol – a story etched in tragedy. Together with their grandmother, two young children came to Zakarpattia. Their mother, father and sibling were killed in the war. Suddenly, the grandmother also dies, and the kids are left with their aunt, a 20-year-old with a newborn.”
New skillsets help social workers in supporting families
Yuliia supports the young woman with raising her newborn and two nephews. She uses all the skills and practices acquired during the ARQ training sessions on psychosocial support and traumatic grief. Coupled with the support of her team, it helped Yuliia navigate the complexities of her role, often emotionally taxing.
Laughter as medicine for stress
Humour became a helpful coping mechanism for Yuliia to deal with stress: “Everyone is so stressed right now. It helps me to share my thoughts with colleagues and even have some fun.” Despite the challenges, the rewarding moments come when families find stability, jobs, and some peace of mind.
Social worker Yuliia Makar works at the City Center for Social Services in Chop, Zakarpattia Oblast. She attended several ARQ training courses in recognising symptoms of psychotrauma and working with war-affected families. ARQ also supported her in self-care and stress management.
