Impact - Благодійна організація «100 відсотків життя. Запоріжжя»

Anton (name changed), a man in his 40s, went to us for a regular consultation. He did not consider himself at risk: he lived in a stable relationship, worked, and made plans. The only episode of risky behavior that had ever occurred seemed insignificant to him and long forgotten.
During the consultation, the specialist suggested taking an HIV test — more like "just in case." The positive result was unexpected and painful for Anton. He said that in the first minutes he could not believe it, because it was a question of a single risky episode.
The specialist from the "100% Life. Zaporizhzhia" health care center was there from the very beginning. She explained the next steps, supported him emotionally, helped him undergo confirmatory tests, and quickly arrange ART treatment. Thanks to her professionalism, Anton started therapy almost immediately, which is key to maintaining his health.
Anton’s partner also got tested through the organization. Her result was negative, and the specialist recommended PrEP prophylaxis to her to maintain her health and minimize any risks in the future.Anton admitted that the most helpful thing was the human attitude: when he was not judged, not scared, but calmly explained that HIV is a diagnosis that people live a full life with; when someone nearby told him in time that he was not alone.
Today, Anton is taking therapy, stabilizing his condition and approaching an undetectable viral load. The couple is confidently looking to the future, planning a family and children — understanding that the timely help received preserved their health and life.
This story reminds us: you need to get tested for HIV at least once every six months. This is a simple step that can save your life. You should not be afraid of testing, because HIV is not a sentence. Timely treatment allows you to live a full life.
Mykhailo (name changed) is an internally displaced person who is on the state program of substitution maintenance therapy (SMT). After moving and difficult life circumstances, he needed comprehensive psychosocial and social support. A specialist from the “100% Life. Zaporizhzhia” NGO took him under social support, helped stabilize his condition and undergo treatment for viral hepatitis C — an important step that returned his health and confidence.
After his well-being improved, Mykhailo turned to the employment center, as he seeks to find an official job and restore financial stability.
As part of social support, a specialist from the “100% Life. Zaporizhzhia” NGO helped Mykhailo collect documents, explained the procedure for passing the VLK and supported him at all stages. Now he is completing the process and after receiving the conclusion, he will be able to officially get a job and start a new stage in his life.
Mykhailo's story demonstrates the importance of social and psychosocial support for people on substitution maintenance therapy, and also emphasizes how important early detection and timely treatment of viral hepatitis C are. Timely diagnosis allows you to avoid complications, maintain health, and return a person to a full quality of life.
It often happens like this: a person lives in fear of silence. In fear of telling. In fear of not being understood.
We know this path. That is why our social worker works next to people every day — to be that voice of support that gives strength to speak, act, change.
Here is one of the stories. Anna (not her real name), who had previously been reluctant to come out, hesitated for a long time to confess her HIV status to her partner. The fear of losing the relationship, the fear of rejection held her back. And it was at this moment that the phone rang. The call from our social worker was the beginning of a new page.
Together they discussed how to choose the right words, what reactions are possible, what support will be there. When Anna finally dared to talk to her partner, everything turned out not to be as scary as she thought. The partner heard, understood and agreed to take the test. The result was positive. But now he was ready, because there was support nearby. He was immediately included in the treatment program.
This story is about the power of timely help. That every call, every meeting, every “me with you” can be life-saving.
Social workers of the “100% Life. Zaporizhzhia” NGO are those who help every day to take this step towards a life without barriers and with faith in tomorrow.
And if it weren’t for them, perhaps Anna’s story would have turned out differently.
CO «100% Life. Zaporizhzhia» not only provides services, but also builds an evidence base for systemic change in the humanitarian sector. In 2025, we conducted a large-scale sociological study of the needs of marginalized populations in five frontline regions of Ukraine.
Our team surveyed 350 beneficiaries in the communities of Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Kherson regions. We developed a unique methodology that underwent ethical review and was confirmed to meet the highest standards of human rights protection.
The data obtained enables us to carry out a real assessment of the situation and advocate for the rights of vulnerable groups at both regional and national levels. The results of the study serve as a tool to improve people’s access to humanitarian and social assistance during wartime and the post-war period. We transform numbers into effective solutions for those who need them most.
Little Viktoriia (name changed) was under the care of CO «100% Life. Zaporizhzhia». The child fell ill with a high fever, headache, and vomiting. After visiting a pediatrician, she received symptomatic treatment for a viral respiratory infection, but her condition rapidly deteriorated. An emergency medical team hospitalized her in the anesthesiology and intensive care unit of a children’s hospital with a diagnosis of acute meningitis, severe course.
Further examination revealed Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the cerebrospinal fluid. Viktoriia was then transferred to the anesthesiology and intensive care unit of the phthisiopulmonology center, where she was diagnosed with tuberculous meningitis and started on specific anti-tuberculosis treatment.
The girl comes from a large family living in difficult life circumstances. During medical examination, her mother was also diagnosed with drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis and began treatment. Due to low adherence to therapy, a social worker from our organization provided continuous support to both mother and daughter - explaining the importance of uninterrupted treatment, helping coordinate additional examinations, ensuring access to symptomatic medications, arranging consultations with specialized doctors, and facilitating psychological support.
As a result of comprehensive treatment, Viktoriia’s condition gradually improved. After four months, she was transferred from intensive care to the pediatric department to continue therapy. Upon completion of the full course of treatment, she was discharged home in satisfactory condition.
At the end of last year, a client named Yurii (name changed), who was under the social support of CO «100% Life. Zaporizhzhia» found himself in difficult life circumstances. Due to acute pneumonia, he was hospitalized in serious condition at the regional infectious diseases hospital for inpatient treatment.
During his stay in the hospital, Yurii ran out of his antiretroviral therapy (ART) medications. As he had no relatives or acquaintances in Zaporizhzhia, he was unable to obtain the medicines on his own. Even a short interruption of ART could have led to a deterioration of his health, complications, and reduced effectiveness of further treatment.
A social worker from our organization responded promptly - coordinating the provision of the medications and personally delivering them to the hospital. At the same time, communication between medical institutions was ensured to maintain continuity of treatment and monitor the client’s condition.
Thanks to timely intervention and support, Yurii was able to continue his ART without interruption during hospitalization. This helped stabilize his condition, prevent the risks associated with treatment interruption, and maintain adherence to therapy.
After the start of the full-scale war, the need for physical rehabilitation in Ukraine has increased significantly. The Ivankiv Central District Hospital, a key medical institution of the Ivankiv community in the Kyiv region, faces challenges typical for many communities: limited human resources, insufficient material and technical support, and the lack of an integrated physical rehabilitation system.
To address this challenge, the project «Improving Access to Quality Physical Rehabilitation and Integration of People with Disabilities in the Ivankiv Community in Ukraine» was implemented by the charitable organization CO «100% Life. Zaporizhzhia».
The project was carried out by the International Organization for Migration (IOM Ukraine) with funding from the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).
During October–November, medical professionals from the Ivankiv Central District Hospital completed 10 training sessions focused on modern approaches to physical rehabilitation. Participants covered key topics ranging from recovery after strokes and amputations to pain management, posture correction, postoperative care, selection of assistive devices, care for critically ill patients, and emergency response.
The training combined theory with practical application, enabling specialists to immediately apply new knowledge in their daily work with patients. The final stage was a two-day experience exchange event held at SUPERHUMANS LVIV, one of the leading comprehensive rehabilitation centers in Ukraine.
The project became an important step toward establishing a sustainable rehabilitation care model in the community. For Ivankiv, where more than 2,700 people with disabilities live, strengthening the hospital’s capacity means real change – greater access to quality rehabilitation services closer to home and a reduced risk of long-term disability.
Olha (name changed) has lived with a disability since childhood. We visited this young woman in one of the settlements of Zaporizhzhia district. She uses a wheelchair and lives with cerebral palsy. Despite all the challenges she faces, Olha impresses everyone with her sincere smile, openness, and remarkable zest for life.
During our visit, she warmly welcomed the team, expressed heartfelt gratitude for the attention and support, and listened carefully to every word. Her warmth and sincerity deeply moved the representatives of CO «100% Life. Zaporizhzhia».
Due to the war, the family was forced to leave their hometown in Zaporizhzhia region - a place where, as her mother says, «even the walls supported us» - and relocate to another settlement. Because of the urgent move, they were unable to take all the necessary care supplies with them, which significantly complicated their daily life.
Olha’s mother shares that her daughter is active, strong-willed, and possesses tremendous inner strength despite difficult life circumstances.
We informed the family about the project aimed at supporting palliative patients and provided essential care items: a commode chair, an anti-decubitus mattress, and special rubber rings to prevent pressure sores.
For this family, the assistance became more than humanitarian aid – it provided real relief in the daily care of their daughter and an opportunity to improve her quality of life. These are the kinds of steps that allow us to turn support into tangible change where it is truly needed.
Our hero is a veteran of the Russian-Ukrainian war, Viktor (name changed). He went through injuries, concussions, and experienced symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. After returning from the front, he felt physically and emotionally exhausted. It seemed to him that he had become a burden to his family, and his sense of purpose in life was gradually fading.
Working with a psychologist from the CO «100% Life. Zaporizhzhia» became the first step toward change. After seven individual sessions, he began to see his condition differently - he learned to accept recovery as a gradual process, without placing excessive demands on himself.
Gradually, his anxiety and acute emotional reactions to the words or actions of loved ones decreased. His sleep improved, and his psycho-emotional state stabilized. Along with this, trust in his family relationships returned - and most importantly, a sense of his own worth.
Each meeting with the psychologist became a small but confident step toward a major internal victory. During the process, he mastered mindfulness practices, which involve non-judgmental focus on the present moment. Breathing techniques and elements of art therapy are tools that help him support himself in difficult moments.