When an injured Kateryna Lutsyk returned home after serving more than four years in Ukraine’s military, she made a discovery.
“My reintegration process was a bit difficult because at that time there were no organizations, spaces, places or communities that could support you,” she said. “And the veterans who returned were met with rejection, or perhaps it’s not right to say rejection, but rather a feeling of indifference on the part of civil society.”
Her dream, as a combat veteran, was to create a safe space for other veterans, where they could talk about their struggles and experiences without being judged. So, she made that dream a reality.
“We are working to develop a support system for veterans and their families,” she said. “That is why I always say that veterans come from the community and return to the community. And it is the community’s responsibility to ensure that they have decent conditions for their return.”
Ms. Lutsyk tells her story of service and rehabilitation in this video. Read more about what church institutions are doing to help lay people like her become civic leaders in “A Mission to Do More,” in the March issue of ONE.