In the Volyn region, we delivered 209 hygiene kits to women and girls recently evacuated from occupied territories who are now seeking safety and a fresh start in western Ukraine.
The contents of the packages were tailored to age and individual needs to ensure the aid was relevant and effective. Kits for women and girls included toothbrushes, toothpaste, underwear, socks, sanitary pads, shampoo, shower gel, wet wipes, flashlights, towels, handkerchiefs, antiperspirants, combs, and laundry detergent. Pregnant and breastfeeding women received additional items such as diapers, nursing pads, breast wipes, and postpartum pads. Women with disabilities benefited from urological pads.
Women fleeing occupied territories carry traumatic memories, so beyond hygiene and sanitary supplies, we also provided information on safety and contacts for help in cases of gender-based violence. Women participated in group psychological sessions led by experts, who advised them on how to regain strength and find inner resilience amid difficult circumstances.
Stories of Women We Have Helped
Anastasiia, internally displaced from the Donetsk region
Anastasiia was forced to leave her home in 2022 as Russian rocket attacks and destruction began. Her village remains occupied today, and her house was reduce to ashes. She first moved to Dnipro, but it wasn’t much safer, so she eventually ended up in the Volyn region. Continuous stress and displacement have severely affected her health, requiring ongoing treatment. Though registered at the employment center, her illness prevents her from finding work. Her monthly income is 2,000 hryvnia (about 40 euros), support for internally displaced persons. Together with her husband, a pensioner, their combined income is approximately 7,300 hryvnia (around 150 euros).
Natalia, internally displaced from the Donetsk region
"Rocket attacks intensified, and then my husband was taken away. I was terrified, so I fled with my one-year-old child by bus to the Volyn region. A week later, I saw footage on the news showing our apartment being hit. It was terrible—so many belongings lost. When I escaped, I only brought some clothes, diapers for my little girl, and her favorite stuffed animal she received on her first birthday. We lost everything else."
Natalia has yet to find a job in her new location. Her husband's salary and aid for internally displaced people are not enough to cover rent and basic needs.
Aia, Internally Displaced from the Sumy Region
“At the start of the war, our town was occupied. Military convoys passed right by our house. We stayed quiet to avoid detection. Two weeks later, armed soldiers broke into our home. My parents shouted, ‘Please don’t shoot, we have children!’ We stepped outside with our children in our arms. They told us, ‘Leave, you're the last ones on this street. You must leave your house.’ A sniper on the roof was shooting at anyone passing by. We escaped in a regular car, with three children in the trunk. We didn’t have time to pack anything. Before the war, we didn’t think about essentials like toothbrushes, toothpaste, or shampoo. When those ran out, we bought more. Suddenly, we had none of that…’”
The family initially fled to western Ukraine, then was transported to Germany, where they lived for nearly two years. In December 2023, they returned to their liberated hometown, only to be greeted by devastation: bombed buildings, burned-down apartments, a destroyed train station, and ruined shops. Explosions and rockets are commonplace, making it impossible to stay. Aia left with her sister to study in Kyiv, while the rest of the family sought refuge in Lutsk.
Help for women and girls in Ukraine was made possible thanks to donors who chose Real Gifts Menstrual pads and Humanitarian package.
Thank you for your support.
