“Sometimes just letting somebody know that someone else cares —helps.”
This simple truth, shared by Diahanna (Darka) Senko, Director, Ukraine Crisis Appeal and of Humanitarian and Medical Aid Initiatives at the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO), captures the essence of her recent visit to Ukraine — and the long-standing partnership with Caritas Ukraine.
How It All Started
Diahanna’s collaboration with Caritas Ukraine began in 2018, shortly before the Invictus Games. Appointed ambassador for the Ukrainian team by Ukraine’s Ambassador to Australia, she reactivated revived the Ukraine Crisis Appeal fund which is powered by Rotary World Community Service (RAWCS) and The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO) — a fund created in 2014 to aid Ukraine — and raised $129,000 to support veterans.
That project focused on helping veterans access legal aid, renovate homes, and rebuild their lives. Small business grants followed, enabling many to launch service ventures, sewing businesses, or tutoring programs.
“From the beginning, it was about creating impact,” Diahanna says. “And we knew we could do that by partnering with Caritas Ukraine.”
Programs Shaped by Shared Values
Over the years, The Ukraine Crisis Appeal RAWCS & AFUO’s humanitarian initiatives — under Diahanna’s leadership — have focused on projects developed with and implemented by Caritas Ukraine. These include:
Safe Home Shelters: Secure housing for displaced families, many with children or members with disabilities.
Nazareth Rehabilitation Center: A comprehensive program for veterans struggling with trauma, addiction, and reintegration. “When one person is sick, it affects the whole family,” Diahanna says. “This program supports them all.”
Children’s Dental Care Program: Free dental check-ups and treatment for war-affected children.
Youth Centers: Facilities where children can gather, learn, and play in safety. During her visit to a center in Lviv, Diahanna met children learning English from an American volunteer and saw the joy these spaces bring.
Infrastructure Support: Generators, clean water systems, center renovations — small-scale but essential projects that keep communities going.
For Diahanna, it’s not just about delivering aid — it’s about accountability, flexibility, and shared values. “Caritas Ukraine adapts quickly. They understand the reality on the ground. And they make every dollar count.”
Healing the Whole Family
One of the most emotional stops on the trip was the Nazareth Rehabilitation Center, a joint project of Caritas Ukraine and the Ukraine Crisis Appeal in Australia. The program supports not only veterans but their entire families — helping them heal and reintegrate together.
“When one person is sick, it affects everyone — especially children who feel neglected,” said Diahanna. “Nazareth helps the whole family. Supporting Ukrainian families to rebuild their lives is key to us.”
Supporting Children, Preparing Ukraine’s Future
Diahanna also visited a Caritas Ukraine -run children’s center funded by the Ukraine Crisis Appeal, where displaced children receive educational, trauma and emotional support. “The kids were so happy. One American volunteer even teaches them English. That’s what matters — giving them hope, healing their emotional wounds and building the next generation,” she said.
Group therapy for children, particularly those with parents at the front line, is another direction Diahanna wants to continue to support and help develop. “Children ask tough questions. If we don’t support this generation, the trauma will go deeper.”
Seeing the Work Firsthand
The goal of this trip wasn’t just to visit projects — it was to strengthen the relationship, listen to teams on the ground, and co-create future solutions. To assure that we are providing the most essential assistance to war- torn Ukraine.
“The programs currently being funded are solid and producing great results. But the visit has opened up new opportunities of support where we will explore and create a joint project with Caritas Ukraine with Australian medical and mental health professionals — enabling peer-to-peer mentoring for psychologists, physiotherapists, and trauma specialists.
“Ukraine already has incredible people and programs,” Diahanna said. “We don’t want to replace that — we want to reinforce and support them and provide a platform for professionals to share their knowledge.”
Plans will be put in place to establish a remote learning network to support Ukrainian professionals and strengthen rehabilitation services, especially for veterans facing physical and psychological injuries.
“Ukraine needs so much assistance in so many different areas,” Diahanna says, “so we need to focus on where we can make the biggest difference. Caritas Ukraine helps us do that. Their teams are professional and compassionate — and always ready to adapt to what’s needed.”
What’s Next?
Diahanna sees tremendous potential in supporting formal education within the areas of rehabilitation and to grow this partnership even further — particularly in building professional capacity and enhancing long-term recovery services. As well as non formal education.
“Peer-to-peer support doesn’t cost anything,” she says. “All it takes is the right connection. If a young therapist in Ukraine needs guidance, we can help support this through our Australian network.”
Through this living partnership, Caritas Ukraine and the Ukraine Crisis Appeal, powered by Rotary World Community Service and the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations will continue to bring not just aid — but dignity, hope, and healing to those who need it most.
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