Helping the most vulnerable
Dnipro is an industrial city with around one million inhabitants in eastern Ukraine. Families with children, the sick and the elderly have sought refuge here from the ravages of war elsewhere in the country.
A safe space for healing: Women and Girls Safe Space opens in Kamianske, Ukraine
On December 4, a Woman and Girls Safe Space (WGSS) officially opened in Kamianske, Dnipropetrovsk oblast — offering women and girls a place of safety, support, and recovery amid the ongoing war.
The space was created to ensure that no woman has to face her experiences alone. Here, women can speak openly, be heard, receive psychosocial support, and gradually regain a sense of inner stability and strength.
The opening of the WGSS in Kamianske was not accidental. Following a series of needs assessments, the city was identified as a priority location due to its proximity to the frontline and the significant number of internally displaced people it has welcomed. According to official data, Kamianske is currently home to more than 34,000 internally displaced persons, many of whom fled from eastern and southern regions of Ukraine, including Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, and Kyiv oblasts.
Living Close to the Frontline
Kamianske located about 80–105 km from the active frontline in Zaporizhzhia oblast, Kamianske and its surrounding communities remain in a high-risk security environment. The region has seen ongoing combat operations, artillery and drone attacks, and frequent threats to civilian infrastructure, underscoring the urgent need for safe and supportive spaces. Civilians in and around the city continue to experience the impact of hostilities, with strikes causing injuries and damage to homes — a stark reminder that psychological support and community‑based recovery services are critical in the midst of war.
Support for Survivors of Violence
“This safe space for women and girls is open to those who have experienced domestic violence, gender-based violence, or violence related to the war,” says Oksana Makhas-Ivantsiv, Protection Program Manager. “We wanted to create a place where women can receive help, support, and, most importantly, feel safe.”
The WGSS operates exclusively for women and girls, without the presence of men, to ensure maximum comfort and a sense of security for every visitor. “For some women, Kamianske is a temporary stop, while for others it has become a new home,” explains Mariia Holovan, Coordinator of the WGSS in Kamianske. “This space is designed so that every woman can relax, feel protected, and focus on her own recovery.”
Four psychologists work at the center, providing individual support and facilitating daily group activities. These include art therapy, painting on canvases, creative workshops, wreath-making, and other practices aimed at reducing stress, stabilizing emotional states, and helping women reconnect with their inner resources. Beyond structured sessions, the space also serves as a community hub where women can meet others with similar experiences, rebuild social connections, and gradually form a strong, supportive network.
Partners and Support Behind the Initiative
The Women and Girls Safe Space in Kamianske was created by Dan Church Aid and Norwegian Church Aid in Ukraine with the financial support of the Government of Norway through Norad. The project reflects a broader commitment to protecting women and girls and ensuring access to psychosocial support in communities most affected by the war.
As the conflict continues to shape everyday life in Ukraine, spaces like the WGSS in Kamianske provide more than services — they offer dignity, safety, hope, and the foundation for a resilient community of women supporting one another.
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