A Story of Quiet Resilience

Valentyna Zaychenko (74), a former shop manager and longtime resident of Paraskoviyivka, had built a life of simple pleasures. A widow who found joy in tending her household and growing vegetables, she embodied the quiet strength of rural life.

The war tested her resilience in ways she never imagined. For months, she refused to leave, unable to abandon her animals and the home she had shared with her late husband. The constant explosions and growing danger finally forced her to flee on May 20, 2022, leaving behind everything she had known.

Displaced through Zhytomyr, constantly moving between temporary accommodations, Valentyna maintained her dignity. Battling arthritis and arthrosis, she never lost her spirit of hope.

On December 18, 2024, she found a new home in Senior Chudo Village. More than just a living space, it represented a chance to rebuild, to find community, and to feel safe again.

Her wisdom for younger generations is gentle yet profound: “Be kinder. It’s more beneficial than spreading aggression. Learn to empathize with those weaker than you, and believe in the future—it will inevitably be bright.”

To Dell Loy Hansen, she offers heartfelt gratitude: “I wish you health, happiness, and success in your endeavors. May your helper angels assist you in all your initiatives.”

Her greatest goal now is simple—to tend a small garden, to help around the community, and to find moments of peace in her twilight years.