Documents — a path to a new life: Svitlana’s story

For many years, Svitlana lived without personal documents, severely limiting her opportunities and complicated access to basic rights. The reason stemmed from her mother, Vira, who was herself born without a birth certificate and, due to life circumstances, was never able to obtain one. Without a passport, Vira could not register her daughter’s birth, meaning Svitlana essentially did not exist in the eyes of the state.

Thanks to the efforts of our Roma mediator and the organization’s vice president, Maksym Dzhum, the situation was finally resolved. The first step was a court ruling that officially recognized Vira’s identity, which allowed her to obtain a passport. This was a key turning point — it enabled the start of the legal process to obtain documents for Svitlana.

The next challenge was acquiring Svitlana’s birth certificate, which required working with child welfare services and legal assistance to navigate bureaucratic hurdles. After that, the process of getting her passport began, which also proved complex — it required confirmation of her relationship with her mother and amendments to official records.

Thanks to persistence and legal support, Svitlana completed all the required procedures and finally received her passport! This is more than just a document — it is a gateway to building a future, accessing education and healthcare, securing formal employment, and being a full member of society.

We sincerely congratulate Svitlana on this important milestone and thank everyone who supported her along the way! Special thanks to Maksym Dzhum for his dedication and ongoing service to the Roma community.