How a personal assistant changed the life of a family from Sumy

Iryna Yevtukhova and her son Dmytro live in Sumy (Ukraine). They live together, and despite Dmytro being already 22 years old, Iryna cannot leave him unattended for long, as the young man has intellectual disabilities. However, with the support of the ‘EU4Youth – Youth Employment in Times of Crisis: Personal Assistance Programme to support Persons with Autism, Intellectual and/or Psychosocial Disabilities in Ukraine’, the family received a personal assistant, Yulia Ostapenko, who helps the family live a full life.

Iryna is a powerful woman for whom every day is both a challenge and an opportunity. Although Iryna currently works as a janitor, her first profession was teaching the Ukrainian language.

“In my previous life, I was a teacher, but now I work as a janitor,” Iryna says. She combines her work with constant care for her son: “I go to work with Dmytro because he needs constant supervision. It’s exhausting. He doesn’t talk and can’t take care of himself.”

In this daily marathon of exhaustion and resilience, Iryna encountered an opportunity that changed her life. She learned about a support programme from the ‘Felicitas Sumy’ NGO, where her son participates in classes. One day, Iryna was offered something she could not even dream of – a personal assistant for Dmytro.

That is how Yulia Ostapenko came into their lives – an assistant who became a real ray of light for the Yevtukhov family. “My joy cannot be put into words,” says Iryna. “Yulia has been with us for six months. She has found common ground with Dmytro, and I can finally breathe easy.”

Daily walks in the park, trolleybus rides, city tours – these are just some things the assistant does for Dmytro. Iryna shares with a smile: “They walk for hours, and I can work again. I can go to my garden plot, to the hospital, or just to the store. Such personal assistants are an invaluable help.”

Assistance for Iryna Yevtukhova and her son Dmytro was made possible thanks to the ‘EU4Youth – Youth Employment in Times of Crisis: Personal Assistance Programme to support Persons with Autism, Intellectual and/or Psychosocial Disabilities in Ukraine’ project, implemented with the financial support of the EU and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania within the framework of the ‘EU4Youth Phase III: Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship’ Programme. The Programme is implemented by the Central Project Management Agency (CPVA, Lithuania) in Ukraine and the Eastern Partnership countries.

The project aims to strengthen the resilience of Ukrainian society to the consequences of Russia’s war against Ukraine, especially among young people. In addition, the project aims to enhance the capacity of students, graduates, and young professionals (in the fields of social work, education, psychology, and other professions) by providing them with work experience and improving their skills in line with the realities of wartime.

To date, 271 young people have completed training under this programme, and 98 of them, including Yulia Ostapenko, have become personal assistants, helping people with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities.

The story of Iryna and Dmytro is just one of many. It shows how a simple act of kindness can change lives, restore a sense of freedom, and ease the daily burden. Iryna can once again look forward with hope, knowing that there are people who are ready to support her family.

The original story was published in Ukrainian by Rama.com.ua

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