Some places don’t just shape people’s lives – they become part of their story. For Nelli Angelita Hernandes, that place is Makariv, a small settlement in Kyiv Oblast’s Bucha district. It was here that she found her calling: to teach future medical professionals, help those in need, and change the world around her.
From an early age, Nelli dreamed of becoming a doctor, but her love for teaching was just as strong. After finishing medical school, she chose Makariv – a decision that, at the time, seemed almost random. When she first set foot in Makariv Medical College in 2013 (then still a vocational school), she saw an institution in need of change – small, unremarkable, and far from modern standards. But instead of doubts, she felt determination: one day, this place would be different.
That journey, however, was anything but easy. The college dormitory, where both students and herself were meant to live, was in a desperate state – neglected, with mould-covered walls, second-hand hospital furniture, and hot water available only once a week. To afford better conditions, Nelli took on two extra jobs alongside teaching – working as a fitness trainer and a civic journalist.
Then, on 24 February 2022, everything changed. Kyiv Oblast became a key battleground in Russia’s full-scale invasion, as the occupiers sought to seize the capital in mere days. Cities and villages across Bucha district fell under relentless shelling and occupation. The Makariv Medical College dormitory was severely damaged – its roof and façade were destroyed, windows and doors blown out, and its interior left in ruins. Overall, 40% of Makariv’s buildings were obliterated, and not a single administrative facility remained intact.
When Kyiv Oblast was liberated in April 2022, Nelli saw the first images of the damaged dormitory in Telegram groups. There was no hesitation – she immediately set to work, searching for ways to rebuild. She sent letters, made calls, and appealed to organisations – anyone who might help bring the dormitory back to life.
Her determination paid off. With the support of Ukraine’s international partners through the Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine (PFRU), the first emergency repairs began in December 2022, preventing further destruction. Between May and September 2024, large-scale restoration took place – from structural repairs to fully furnishing the building.
On 24 September 2024, the Makariv Medical College dormitory officially reopened – a milestone that marked not just reconstruction, but renewal. Made possible through international support, the facility, which accommodates up to 60 students, is once again ready to welcome them. This is particularly vital for many of the college’s 135 students, including internally displaced persons and those from vulnerable backgrounds, for whom secure housing is essential to continuing their education.
The impact of the project extended beyond rebuilding a dormitory. The success of this PFRU-backed initiative attracted the attention of other international partners, leading Enabel, the Belgian development agency, to commit to further investment in Makariv and the surrounding communities. It serves as a powerful reminder that recovery is not merely about restoring what was lost – it is about creating new opportunities for the future.
Today, life is returning to the dormitory. Students are back in class, and Nelli is back to doing what she does best – teaching, supporting, and inspiring.
“People are shaped by those around them. I am shaped by the people in my life. Serving them is what inspires me,” she says. After everything the community has endured, it has emerged more united and resilient. Now, Nelli sees only growth and success ahead. “I don’t see Makariv as just a settlement – I see it as a city.”
But rebuilding is about more than just bricks and mortar. It is about those who stay and rebuild, those who refuse to give up, and those who believe in the future. ‘Resilience is unity – it is strength, wisdom, and courage,’ Nelli says. And today, that resilience is breathing life back into a place that once lay in ruins.
