David, a 12-year-old with a love for math, astronomy, and computer games, before the war lived in Myrnograd, a city in the Donetsk region of Ukraine, with his father Sergey and his mother Olena. When the conflict broke out, the family was forced to change their lives completely. The invasion brought challenges far beyond anything they had ever expected.

From the very first days of the large-scale invasion, David’s family took an active role in defending their homeland as volunteers. They made Molotov cocktails at home, delivered food and supplies to soldiers on the front line, and even brought feed for the animals left behind in war zones. For David, these experiences are deeply impressed into his memory.

One day stands out vividly. David and his father were chopping and stacking firewood in the garden behind their house. After finishing their work, they paused to watch the sunset. David climbed onto a pile of logs near the neighbor’s fence. The moment of peace was suddenly interrupted by the sound of an airplane flying overhead. David and his father looked up to see the plane fire two missiles. One exploded almost immediately, while the second missile flew forward and detonated right above them just a few seconds later.

David’s father reacted swiftly. “Leap down and lie on the ground!” he shouted. David quickly dropped to the ground, covering his ears with his hands, while his father lay down on top of him to protect his son. The explosion shook the ground, and after a tense silence, his father told him it was safe to get up. When they stood, they saw a piece of metal that had landed just a few meters away from them. At that moment, David’s mother rushed out of the house, her face full of fear.

That night, the fear and shock of the experience kept David awake. “I couldn’t sleep for a long time,” he recalls.

As the war intensified and the front lines moved closer, David’s family made the difficult decision to leave Myrnograd and seek safety in Lviv. This meant leaving behind their home and the life they had built. His father, who was later wounded in the war, had always been a source of strength for the family. His mother, despite the difficulties, continues to provide emotional support for David and his younger siblings.

Yet through all these challenges, David’s love for learning has remained. Though he now studies online, he continues to excel in his subjects, dreaming of a future filled with peace and stability.

JRS and other organizations have provided critical support to David’s family and countless others, offering not only shelter but also hope in the darkest of times. For families like David’s, the assistance they receive makes a world of difference.

JRS is working together with the Xavier Network, Concordia Moldova, the Society of Jesus in Europe, local civil society, and NGOs in a coordinated Jesuit response. Together we help thousands of people like David. You can read more about The One Proposal at: jrseurope.org/en/project/the-one-proposal/.