WJR KeySupporter Summer 2025-v3.3 - Flipbook - Page 5
REBUILDING LIVES
Yevdokiya’s story
Yevdokiya is 89 years old, Jewish, and lives alone in Kyiv,
Ukraine. An engineer before she retired, she has lived
through immense challenges - surviving World War Two,
evacuation, and the heartbreaking loss of loved ones.
And now, in her later years, she faces the trauma of yet
another war.
Our kindness comes back to us.
Only kindness can change the
country and its people, not hate.
Hate never wins, only love does.
When missiles struck Kyiv one night, Yevdokiya’s home
was badly damaged. Her windows shattered and her front
door was ripped o昀昀 its hinges, hitting her on the head
and badly injuring her. For weeks she lived surrounded by
rubble, broken glass, and uncertainty.
On a pension of just £79 a month, she simply couldn’t
a昀昀ord to repair her home. But fortunately, we could
Before Repairs: Yevdokiya
stand alongside Yevdokiya in her long hour of need. We
were able to repair her windows and replace her door –
restoring warmth, safety, and dignity to her life.
“I was beyond happy that my windows were repaired,
because it felt like a real gift. It brought me so much joy
and such a huge relief – both mentally and 昀椀nancially.”
Now, Yevdokiya no longer has to brace herself against
the cold or the fear of sleeping without security. Her home
feels like home again.
“If my windows hadn’t been repaired, it would have felt
like I’d have to just lie down in a cof昀椀n because surviving
something like that seemed impossible.”
But Yevdokiya’s story is not just one of hardship - it’s
one of hope. Hope that things can get better. Hope that
kindness, even from strangers, can help mend what war
has broken.
“Our kindness comes back to us. Only kindness can
change the country and its people, not hate. Hate never
wins, only love does.”
After Repairs: Yevdokiya
worldjewishrelief.org | 05
