Maryna Dudnyk - participant of the regional competition "Woman of Donetsk Region" in 2025, nomination "Caring Heart"
Maryna Dudnyk's story is a story of women's strength, devotion and love for children, which even the war could not prevent.
She was born and worked in Mariupol as a practical psychologist in the preschool educational institution "Nursery School #117 "Young Sailor", where since 2014 she has been helping children who fled the war and lost their homes. Her kindergarten has become a place of support and warmth for them.
When Mariupol was under siege in 2022, it was in the basement of the kindergarten that Maryna and her colleagues created a space of hope for the children: they painted, sang, and hugged toys to forget the fear and explosions for a minute.
After the evacuation, Maryna moved to Kharkiv and joined the team of the Children's Voices Charitable Foundation. There, she supports children and adults who have experienced losses, shelling, and occupation on a daily basis. She conducts consultations, trainings, travels to frontline communities, works with anxiety, depression, post-traumatic conditions, fears, and restores communication skills. For many people, her words and presence have become the light that helped them not to lose faith in life.
Maryna is constantly studying, improving her knowledge in the field of crisis psychology and trauma pedagogy. Her work is a daily struggle for children's smiles, for a place for love and childhood in a world of war.
"Childhood has the right to live even in times of war. My task is to help preserve this right," says Maryna.
Her journey is a reminder to all of us: the strength of a woman is in her heart, which can heal souls, give hope and give warmth where it is needed most.
Read the detailed story of the contestant at the link: https://surl.lt/peotxe