Yulia Bogash —, a pensioner, lives in the village of Klyshki in the Shostkin community, who took advantage of the opportunity and took part in a project from the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), implemented by the public organization "Association for Democratic Development". She learned about the opportunity to fill out a questionnaire for participation in the project "Support in the livelihood of households from among IDPs and the local rural population affected by the war from among vulnerable categories of the Shostky district of the Sumy region" from the announcement of the starostat. Despite the doubts, I decided to try — submitted an application online, filled out the questionnaire myself, fulfilled all the requirements and received financial support, which I spent on the purchase of funds for running my own subsidiary farm.

Below is Ms. Yulia's story, which combines everyday worries, life experience and sincere gratitude for the help provided.

My name is Yulia Bogash, I live in the village of Klyshki, Shostkin community. I learned about the project from the NGO "Association for Democratic Development" and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) from an announcement placed by the headman. On their page in social networks, they posted a questionnaire, contacts and wrote so that everyone who can and wants to register. It is the job of the starostat — to regularly talk about such opportunities.

First, it became interesting — how real it is, whether it is true or maybe some kind of deception. Last year, she participated in a project from the Red Cross, but then people came alone, registered, communicated. And to register like this via the Internet — for the first time. Secondly, I filled out a questionnaire in order to slightly support my farm with new equipment, to buy more poultry and feed for it. A pensioner, I don't work, I live alone for retirement. You yourself know what she is like. So she decided to try her luck, grab him by the tail.

She filled out the questionnaire herself. I am an accountant by profession, I have a higher education, so I did everything myself. As a result, everything turned out, and I bought what I wanted. I am very glad that the hopes have come true. So, it was not possible to update the equipment and buy a lot in one fell swoop. We repair what was bought a long time ago and what was used before. Everything is mostly old, worn out. And you won't get too much into retirement. Such large-scale purchases have not been made before.

I bought grain, ducks, piglets, a net for a fence, straw, an autoclave. The son-in-law has already stretched three rolls of mesh for the fence. Not yet to the end, but some have already been delivered. Both weather and time allow this to be done.

Next to us, in the pond, lives an otter. I have land with a house under a pond. The tenant used to run the water down and now the lease is over and nobody is doing that. So the otter started in the stumps, it lives there.

I had many young — geese, ducks, turkeys. They grazed over the pond, slept here. And the otter had, so to speak, a "humanitarian dinner" from my bird.

Now she no longer pulls the bird, because ducks and geese have grown and it is beyond her power. But we breed the bird, it will be again in the spring. That's why I bought a — net to get fenced off from an otter.

The autoclave has not yet been used — the bird has not been cut. It is necessary that it is caught a little in the cold, then it clumps well and the meat is beautiful.

She bought hay and grain from local farmers. I learned about the sale of piglets and poultry from an advertisement in the newspaper. Everything else — autoclave, grid, tool kit — bought via the Internet. She sat, read, chose.

Reporting was not difficult. I tried — a hundred times to reread the contract, the application, to know what can and cannot be bought. I sent all the documents and photos to the chat, where the report had to be sent. Even neighbors came, asked to help — take pictures, help pass the report. I say: "Buy, I will help". And what to do? Once you need —, then you need. Not hard.

The help received, of course, helped a lot. First, it was possible to save a little pension. Fuel for the winter should be bought, and then the gardens should be plowed in the spring. This is a lot of support. 

I would like another walk-behind tractor, because there is nothing to plow the garden with. Good did not find — for the season, but was afraid to order via the Internet. Let's see, maybe we'll buy that walk-behind tractor.

I would live until spring, so that such a state is not suspended. Maybe you will have to run away, and I will have a walk-behind tractor and all this... Let's live — we will see. In the meantime, we are preparing for winter.

Autumn 2025 in Shostky district takes place in difficult conditions. As a result of regular shelling and shooting down of enemy drones, damage to residential buildings and infrastructure is recorded, and there are wounded among the civilian population. Air alarms continue daily, with local communities on high alert, supporting utilities and providing basic needs for residents.

Autumn 2025 in Shostky district takes place in difficult conditions. As a result of regular shelling and shooting down of enemy drones, damage to residential buildings and infrastructure is recorded, and there are wounded among the civilian population. Air alarms continue daily, with local communities on high alert, supporting utilities and providing basic needs for residents.

The project is implemented jointly by the NGO "Association of Democratic Development" with Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) в Україні за підтримки Норвегії.