People come to Zhytomyr Community Fund almost every day. The war forced them to leave their homes and save the most precious thing – the lives of their loved ones. During communication, our guests share their memories, worries and hopes.

“Good afternoon, we are from Bakhmut. Our city is green and beautiful,” Tetiana greeted us when she came to Zhytomyr Community Fund with her sons on May 11.

The woman said that their family left Bakhmut on April 7. They did not evacuate earlier because they hoped that everything would be fine. One day, Tatiana went to the store with her sons, and suddenly cluster bombs began to fall. Bohdan and Nazar stood motionless and looked at them, and their mother was very scared for them.

“Staying at home was scary and dangerous. We were very afraid for the children. Therefore, we left by our car and took our cat Rosa with us, – Tetiana continued her story. – 4 streams of cars were moving in the direction of Dnipro city. Many of these cars were damaged. We stopped for the night in Uman, Cherkassy region, as the curfew began. Then we got to Zhytomyr. We stayed here, because we could not physically go further. Friends helped us with housing, Zhytomyr city council helped us with clothes. It is very nice that people support us.”

14-year-old Nazar and 16-year-old Bohdan are weightlifters. However, the war not only deprived teenagers of their home, but also of their training. Their mother hopes to find opportunities to resume her sons’ training in Zhytomyr.

Tatiana says that she now has two primary tasks: to get her husband and her sons’ dad who needs treatment back on his feet, and to find a gym for her boys so they can train and stay in shape.

The family received food and hygiene products from Zhytomyr Community Foundation.