Davydiv Brid, a village in Ukraine’s Kherson region, has been heavily affected by the war. For Olha Vasylivna Dumych (64), daily life became about survival. With funding from EU Humanitarian Aid, ZOA is able to help families like that of Olha rebuild their lives after loss and destruction.
Olha lives with her daughter-in-law Olia and granddaughters Tamila (4) and Olia (3). The girls’ father, Olha’s youngest son, was killed by a landmine. Another son died at the front. A third is in captivity. All three of them had children.
When the shelling intensified, the family fled to Kryvyi Rih. On returning, they found their house destroyed: no ceiling, no windows or doors. Left with only Olha’s small pension and a one-time benefit from the state, repairs seemed impossible.
“My son adored his family and supported Olia, his wife, who lives with a disability”, Olha recounts. “He promised to rebuild our home. But he never got the chance.”
Thanks to funding from the European Union and help from ZOA, the family could begin to restore their home. New windows and doors were installed, and materials for roof reconstruction have been purchased. A second payment is expected to complete the work. "If not for your organisation, I could never have done this alone," Olha says. "You gave us a chance to live."
ZOA has been providing humanitarian aid in Ukraine since 2022, with a focus on shelter repairs, cash assistance, and livelihood recovery. With funding from EU Humanitarian Aid, we support displaced and war-affected families in returning home safely and with dignity.