Balloons That Survived the War

Before the war, Liudmyla Vynnyk lived in a small town called Novovorontsovka in the Kherson region. The kind of place where people know each other by name, where celebrations always begin with decorated halls, children’s smiles, and colorful balloons drifting slowly up toward the ceiling.

Those balloons became her life’s work.

As far back as 2015, Liudmyla had been building her own business in balloon décor — creating photo zones, decorating celebrations, selling helium balloons, working with both families and companies, and gradually growing her craft with the time, patience, and attention to detail that a truly festive atmosphere demands.

Her work appeared at children’s birthday parties, family celebrations, and event venues. Places where people laughed, took photographs, and forgot about everyday life for a few hours.

Then the war came.

When Novovorontsovka fell under occupation, the life Liudmyla had built over years suddenly ceased to exist in any recognizable form. Her business, equipment, and supplies — nearly everything was left behind in the home she was forced to abandon.

In December 2023, Liudmyla and her family had no choice but to leave.

First came the shelters. Temporary rooms, unfamiliar walls, suitcases packed with only the essentials. Then a rented apartment in Dnipro. A new city, new faces, and the overwhelming sense that everything would have to be rebuilt from scratch.

Starting from zero is more than a figure of speech. It is the moment when you look at your life and realize that almost nothing you spent years creating is with you anymore.

That was when Liudmyla began looking for a way forward.

She found information about support programs online and reached out to the Rise of Ukraine foundation — first for a consultation, for guidance, for any chance of understanding whether it was possible to return to the work she knew so well.

At the foundation, she received not only information and practical support, but also the opportunity to apply for grant programs. Gradually, step by step, something that is hardest to hold on to in difficult times began to return — the feeling of not being alone.

Support, understanding, and hope.

With that support, Liudmyla was able to apply for a grant and received funding from Mercy Corps and the Professional Development Foundation, which allowed her to get back to work.

In the spring of 2024, she returned to her business.

Carefully at first. With small orders, searching for clients, rebuilding what had once felt ordinary.

And then the first photo zone appeared.

It was made for a little boy’s first birthday celebration. Colorful balloons, an arch, decorations — everything that reminded Liudmyla why she had started this work in the first place. Because people need celebrations even in the darkest of times. And her work could be seen in Dnipro once again. Photo zones, festive decorations, event styling — small islands of joy that gave people back a sense of normal life.

Her Instagram page, lucia_decor_dp, became not just a portfolio, but proof that even after loss, one can find the strength to begin again.

In time, Liudmyla was able to bring her family abroad, but her story remains an example of how timely support, the right kind of help, and faith in one’s own work can change a person’s path.

Sometimes the road to a new life begins with a very simple step — the decision not to give up. Sometimes it begins with colorful balloons. And with people who help you rise after you’ve fallen.