The Unexpected Nanny: Anna Kobylarz's Journey in a War-Torn Ukraine

Anna Kobylarz, a Polish American entrepreneur, thought she was doing what many generous Americans have done: volunteering to deliver much-needed supplies to war-torn Ukraine. With the support of a grant from the Andrew Sabin Family Foundation, she provided a generator to support a women's shelter in Chernivtsi, a city in southwestern Ukraine.

Her plan was straightforward: deliver the generator to the City of Goodness—a shelter originally built to help women escaping domestic violence—and then move on.

But her visit didn’t go as planned. With Russia’s war on Ukraine, the City of Goodness had shifted its mission and was now sheltering more than 200 children, many of whom were victims of the conflict. Upon arrival, Kobylarz learned that 77 orphans had just arrived, and there weren't enough caregivers to meet their needs.

Anna Kobylarz, Little Sonya, and Marta Levchenko, founder of The City of Goodness. Sonya passed away in late August of 2024. She might have lived, if it weren't for Russia’s war on Ukraine.

The children required food, baths, and basic care, but they arrived faster than the shelter could accommodate them. Kobylarz had planned to stay for just a day, but the pressing needs of the children compelled her to stay for two weeks, acting as a full-time, round-the-clock nanny until more help arrived.

The children in her care ranged from just two months to five years. Overnight, she found herself thrust into the role of a caregiver, navigating the challenges of looking after dozens of young children in a war zone.

One of her first experiences was an air raid. "We had to hide in the bomb shelter, but it wasn’t big enough for everyone," she recalls. "We urgently needed another shelter."

Determined to help, Kobylarz reached out again to her friends in New York, and the necessary funds for a new bomb shelter were quickly granted. However, she faced another challenge: determining if it was realistic to construct a building during wartime.

“I was afraid people would say, ‘You’re a crazy woman! Build a bomb shelter now? There’s a war going on!’”

Despite her fears, local people stepped up to construct a second shelter. Unlike a typical bomb shelter—a stark, underground space designed to protect against bomb blasts—the one Kobylarz helped build was unique. Though it had the essential features of a bomb shelter, it was also painted and decorated to resemble a playground, providing a sense of normalcy and comfort for the children.

In the nearly 1,000 days since the full-scale invasion began, the City of Goodness has also established the House of Butterflies, a hospice for terminally ill children. Kobylarz takes solace in knowing that these children are receiving care and kindness in their final days. However, she is tormented by the thought that many of these children might have survived if not for the war and the severe lack of resources it has caused.

Kobylarz formed a deep bond with Sonya, a little girl with eye cancer. “She wanted so badly to live,” Kobylarz recalls. Sonya had been treated at the Okhmatdyt children’s hospital in Kyiv, the one that was bombed on July 8th of this year. Despite the child's blindness, Kobylarz recalls, "Her small hands reached out for the toys I brought, and her giggling voice was full of childlike joy."

The child’s doctors believe that, if not for the war, little Sonya might have survived. She passed away just a few days ago. She was six years old. "It's devastating to reflect on this," Kobylarz says, her voice trembling with emotion.

Since the war began, Kobylarz has traveled to Ukraine 17 times. Despite the emotional toll, she remains steadfast in her commitment. She feels a deep connection to the Ukrainian community in America and considers herself part of their fight. “I’m fighting this war in my own way, for those children,” she says. “And I will keep fighting, no matter what.”