A Story of Dignity, Life Journey, and Support That Stands By
Ivan Omelianovych is 85 years old. He has spent his entire life in the Pechenihy community — working, teaching others, and taking on responsibility. His path reflects a lifetime of dedication: starting work on a farm from the 4th grade, later becoming the head of the settlement council in Novyi Burluk, and eventually retiring as a teacher of labor studies and technical drawing.
Today, age is taking its toll. His hearing has worsened, and it has become more difficult for him to move around — especially during the winter.
Recently, his bank card expired and needed to be renewed. However, completing this task on his own proved to be difficult. The bank branch in Pechenihy has long been closed — the nearest one is located in Chuhuiv, 15 kilometers away. For a person of his age, getting there by public transport is both challenging and unsafe. Moreover, reaching the bank requires walking from the bus stop, which means navigating icy winter roads, cold weather, and the risk of falling.
Inside the branch, long queues make the situation even more difficult. During air raid alerts, people are asked to leave the building, while there is no shelter nearby. Attempts to resolve the issue online were unsuccessful due to technical difficulties. At this point, Ivan Omelianovych could no longer manage the situation on his own.
He turned to a case manager from the Charitable Foundation “Source of Revival” (CFSR), who works within the project “Basic Social Support and Capacity Building of Social Service Centers in Communities.”
The specialist explained what documents were needed, helped him prepare for the visit, and offered escorted support — traveling together to the bank and resolving the issue on-site. During the visit, they successfully reissued his bank card, and during an air raid alert, they were able to reach shelter in time.
For Ivan Omelianovych, this was more than just renewing a document. He says it was important to feel heard, understood, guided through each step, and supported at a moment when it truly mattered.
This story highlights how even simple tasks can become difficult without support. Case management helps elderly people overcome physical, informational, and safety barriers, enabling them to access essential services without unnecessary risk and stress.
This publication was prepared by the Charitable Foundation “Source of Revival” (CFSR) with the support of the Askold and Dir Foundation, administered by ISAR Ednannia within the project “Strong Civil Society of Ukraine – A Driver of Reforms and Democracy,” funded by the governments of Norway and Sweden.
The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the Charitable Foundation “Source of Revival” (CFSR) and does not necessarily reflect the views of the governments of Norway, Sweden, or ISAR Ednannia.
