Finding Warmth in a New Land: The Story of Ukrainian Children and Their Journey to Moldova

"People from Chisinau welcomed us, they gave us gifts, and our uncles, aunts, grandmothers, and grandfathers were with us," says Oleksandra.  

Her grandmother Larysa is teary eyed when she speaks about the life of her granddaughters in a new country. “I will never stop talking about the hospitality of Moldovans. We have been helped wherever we went,” says Larysa. 

For nine-year-old Viktor, protection became the best gift after he was forced to flee the war with his mother and 16-year-old brother; that's what Moldova and the Blue Dot specialists offered. Viktor received psychological support and benefitted from activities that helped him forget about the rocket attacks. “I'm safe here. I participate in various activities where I make friends, and it is fun,” says Viktor.  

Viktor’s mother, Elena, 34 is even more grateful for the support she has received. Gratitude has the power to heal, and Elena is now a social worker at the Blue Dot in Moldova and helps other women and children from Ukraine return to their everyday lives.  

Elena is one of more than160,000 refugees who will never forget the kindness and unconditional help provided by medical workers and early childhood development specialists at the 11 Blue Dots established with UNICEF support. 

"When we arrived in Moldova, the Blue Dot workers asked us what we needed. I needed psychological support and I got help for which I am grateful. They also had clothes, toys, notebooks, and books,” says Elena, Viktor’s mother. “Our children were provided with games, developmental activities, and sports which helped them forget the war for a while. My moments of happiness are when my children can do what they like, go to sleep, and wake up without fear," she says. 

The war forced more than 5.9 million people to seek protection in neighboring countries. More than 670,000 refugees entered through Moldova, including more than 100,000 children who need continuous support. 

Oleksandra and her 10-year-old sister Larysa, from Ochakov, Ukraine, are two children who have found refuge in Moldova and received hospitality and unconditional help.  

The girls, accompanied by their grandparents, were forced to leave their home after continuous attacks forced them to stay in the basement for three days. Today, Larysa and Oleksandra participate in the educational activities organized at Blue Dot centres in Chisinau and are happy to make new friends. 

“What I like most is the hospitality here. When we just came and started using buses, taxis, going to humanitarian aid centres and everyone around was helping us. The taxi ride was offered free of charge, as well as the bus. Many people let us skip the line and there are many other examples like that,” says Larysa.  

Since the onset of the war one year ago, UNICEF Moldova, in partnership with national authorities and the Moldovan people and support from donors, is working to help refugee families. More than 36,000 refugee children have been enrolled in schools, kindergartens, and non-formal education programs.  

They were warmly welcomed by Moldovan teachers and children. UNICEF continues to work with authorities to provide access to education, health services, and protection for children fleeing the war.  

Larysa is hoping the war will end soon and she can return home. Meanwhile she is making friends in Moldova and learning to cope with her new temporary home. “I love spending time in these children's camps. I have made a lot of friends since I came here to Moldova. I started learning Romanian and I am already understanding some of it," she says.