Iryna is a young Ukrainian woman who arrived in Italy at the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine. Upon her arrival, she was accepted into the Italian school project dedicated to the Ukrainian population, activated in response to the outbreak of war. During classes, Iryna often burst into tears without being able to clearly explain what she was feeling or what was happening to her.

The young girl spoke only Ukrainian, as she came from a family with limited economic resources and had not had the opportunity to study English well. The teacher in her class, concerned about her emotional state, reported the case to ASCS, which promptly requested the intervention of a native Ukrainian-speaking psychologist from the Wasi project.

Through the course of psychological support offered by Wasi, it emerged that Iryna had gone through dramatic experiences: her grandparents had died in a bombing, while her father and brother had decided to stay in Ukraine to fight for their country. Her mother had chosen to stay in their hometown to be near her husband and son, hoping to be able to re-embrace them when they returned from the war.

This situation had thrown Iryna into a constant state of anxiety, fueled both by concern for the safety of her family members and the difficulty of receiving regular news from them.

Iryna was followed for over a year by Wasi’s psychological support service and, in parallel, was placed in a Self Mutual Help group dedicated to Ukrainian women. In this space, she was able to engage with other women who were experiencing the same difficulties, finding comfort and solidarity.

Thanks to this path, Iryna was able to strengthen herself emotionally and develop more confidence in dealing with her daily life, despite the pain and worries about her estranged family. With commitment, she learned Italian well enough to be able to find work in a restaurant, thus setting herself on the path to greater autonomy.

Today, Iryna continues to participate in the Wasi Self-Mutual Help group, where she reunites with many of the women with whom she shared the difficult moments related to the outbreak of the conflict. This bond and ongoing support allows her to look to the future with greater strength and hope.

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