Support space for women and children in France

Working with the PravoVsim platform, Lina Zabolotna has been providing free legal assistance for several years to people affected by the war in Ukraine — both those who remain in the country and those who were forced to leave it. 

Her attention also extends to survivors of gender-based violence, particularly women who have experienced domestic violence or were forced to flee their homes because of the war. Her experience in human rights advocacy has shown that, alongside legal assistance, people need a safe space — a place where they can recover, find community, and regain confidence in their own strength. 

This insight inspired Lina to create the VoNa Association (Colmar, 68000) — a space that brings together women and children who have found themselves in France due to the war or other difficult life circumstances. It is more than just an association — it is a community of mutual support, where every woman can feel heard, and children can learn, play, and grow in a caring environment. 

The main areas of VoNa’s work include: providing legal information and support to women, implementing educational and developmental programs for children, organizing leisure and cultural events, supporting physical and emotional well-being, and helping with adaptation and social integration in a new country. VoNa strives to become a bridge between women and society — a place where each woman can find support, gain new knowledge, restore her strength, and feel that she is not alone. 

Thus, today Ukrainian women in France can receive assistance not only online, through the PravoVsim platform, but also offline — directly in the VoNa space. This means that beside them stands a qualified professional who understands Ukrainian law and is also familiar with the French system of social protection.