There are places where the air is filled with a special kind of silence—not the kind that saddens, but the kind that soothes and heals. This is exactly the feeling you get when you step across the threshold of the WGSS in the city of Kamianske, Dnipro region. Here, under the auspices of the international humanitarian organization DCA-NCA in Ukraine, a quiet yet powerful process of inner rebirth and restoration of women’s strength unfolds every day. This is a Space where the word “support” is stripped of any formality. Here, support is a concrete, tangible action aimed at those who lost their homes due to the war, experienced gender inequality, conflict-related violence, or simply found themselves stuck in a dead-end of depression and despair.
Spending a day at the Center, you immerse yourself in a whirlpool of women’s destinies, each unique, yet currently seeking the exact same thing: inner light and a new path forward.
At eleven o’clock in the morning, the WGSS fills with the delicate aroma of fresh greenery and flowers. A week-long course in floristry has begun here, running until four o’clock in the afternoon. Its goal is not just to teach how to arrange plants, but to give women a real professional foundation—a tool for self-realization and financial independence in a city new to them.
For many participants, working with flowers becomes a therapy that literally pulls them out of emotional numbness.
“After the initial joy of escaping subsided a bit, reality set in, followed by depression and confusion. It was a very, very difficult period… I felt like I was stuck in one place, that I wasn’t moving forward, wasn’t growing, and couldn’t realize my potential”,-shares her pain Yulia from Mariupol, who survived the horrors of occupation in a village near Volnovakha.
Having a technical background in energy engineering, Yulia was unable to find a job in her field for a long time in the small city of Kamianske, which led to despair. It was the psychologist at the Center who helped her broaden her outlook on life and turn her attention to creativity.
“I really enjoy working with flowers right now, creating such beauty, lifting people’s spirits, and working with colors. And I think this is a moment I should perhaps use—not just to sit around waiting for the war to end, but to find myself in a different field. Now, when there is an opportunity to try and realize myself through beauty and creativity, it is very interesting and completely new for me”,-says Yulia.
While the girls inside the walls of the Center immerse themselves in the world of floristry, the WGSS team is already heading out for an outreach session at local Gymnasium No. 18. There, they conduct a special course called “Girls Shine,” designed specifically for teenage girls.
The Space’s specialists help young girls find their inner strength, protect their personal boundaries, build healthy self-esteem, and resist changing their character to meet others’ expectations. This is about nurturing a future generation of women who will know how to say “no” to violence and inequality from an early age.
Returning to the Center with the team, we arrive just in turn for a workshop on weaving gerdans—traditional Ukrainian beaded necklaces. A special, almost sacred atmosphere fills the room. It is quiet and peaceful. Each participant carefully selects colors and patterns that best reflect her current inner state. This is a time for heartfelt conversations; while stringing beads, the women share what hurts them the most.
Between activities, we managed to talk with Tetiana from Severodonetsk. Before the full-scale invasion, she had successfully managed a large store for sixteen years. However, the war left them no choice, and under horrific shelling, she and her ill mother fled the burning city. They left with only the clothes on their backs, losing everything, including their home and family photos. In Kamianske, Tetiana faced a new grief—her mother passed away, and her son is still on the frontline, making her feel more alone than ever.
“The fate of an IDP found me anyway. My mother passed away. My son continues to defend Ukrainian land. I am here alone within four walls. Sometimes I feel like I’ll forget how to speak”, –the woman recalls her state before coming to the Center.
For her, the Women and Girls Safe Space became the only bridge to other people, a place where she was warmed by care.
“I had 5 counseling sessions with a psychologist. Moreover, she is from Severodonetsk herself. When you meet your own people, it warms your soul. And in general, I liked it here so much, everything is so beautiful. So much care and support. Thank you very much. I believe your Center is the best”, –says Tetiana.
As the creation of the gerdans was winding down in the creative workshop, another group of women was energetically gathering for a Nordic walking session. They grab special poles and head out into the fresh air. This is a powerful tool for psycho-emotional rehabilitation and overcoming life crises.
The session is led by Larysa, a volunteer at the Center and a former school principal. Due to a severe spinal illness, she once experienced total paralysis of her legs but managed to walk again thanks to this sport. Now, she heads the city’s Nordic Walking Federation, founded by volunteers and displaced women. Larysa brought all her international sports awards to the Center to show others that barriers exist only in our minds.
“We have many women who moved here, as well as local residents from Kamianske, who have children with disabilities, some have husbands serving, and so on. They need support; their spirit needs to be lifted. I love seeing people’s eyes light up. Especially when, you know, even if you imagine for a minute that you have nothing, realizing you’ve lost everything—if you can get at least some positive emotions and support yourself, that, I believe, is the main thing”, –Larysa says with conviction.
“For an organization to work with women on such a large and professional scale and provide such services—it’s worth everything. I love the team; they are so alive and active. I derive pleasure from the fact that those who participate enjoy it too”, –inspirationally says volunteer..
The day at the Women and Girls Safe Space has come to an end, but it leaves behind a lasting feeling of warmth. The Space created in Kamianske proves that when women unite and receive professional help, they are capable of overcoming any war trauma, social isolation, or discrimination.
About the project
The activities of the Women and Girls Safe Spaces, opened under the auspices of DCA-NCA in Ukraine funded by NORAD, are of vital importance in today’s environment. Beyond providing basic leisure activities, these Centers help restore the personal potential of girls and women, protect their rights, provide opportunities for professional growth, and offer the necessary psycho-emotional support.
The programs of the Centers are designed to help girls and women gather their inner resources, integrate into social life, and confidently plan their future.
