Finding stability away from home: Victoria’s journey

"It is peace. It is family gathered around the table, knowing that nothing is flying above your head," she says.

When Victoria packed everything she could fit into her old car and left Ukraine with her two daughters, she believed they would only be away from home for a short time. Almost three years later, that hope remains.

"I still wake up every day waiting hoping that this will end and I can return home," says the 33-year-old Victoria from Odesa region.

Victoria never imagined she would have to start her life somewhere else. But everything changed after the full-scale war in Ukraine. Like many Ukrainians forced to flee, Victoria tried to return home once, believing the situation had improved. She stayed for four months before another strike happened nearby.

"The explosions affect your emotional well-being, and they affect children too. When I am anxious, they become anxious. You cannot hide those feelings," she says.

Looking for safety, Victoria settled in Ribnita, Left Bank of the Nistru River, with her two daughters, 14-year-old Kristina and 12-year-old Korina. The family adapted quickly. Familiar language, welcoming people, and access to Ukrainian-language school helped the girls continue their studies and rebuild a sense of routine. For Kristina and Korina, Moldova has become a place where they have found friends and safety.

"I really like it here, I have made many friends and I love my school," says Kristina. Her younger sister, Korina, agrees. "The people are very kind, and life feels peaceful here. I miss our home in Ukraine, but here I feel calm," she says.

However, finding a place to live was not easy. After the apartment they were renting became unsuitable because of plumbing problems, Victoria urgently needed to find somewhere else to live. Through another Ukrainian refugee, she learned about a small house available for rent.

"When I first saw it, it needed a lot of work. But I cleaned it, organized everything, and slowly made it feel like home. Back in Ukraine, we also lived in a house, so this brings me comfort," she remembers with a smile.

Today, the small but cozy house offers something the family has been missing – stability. That stability has been strengthened through rental assistance provided by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), with generous funding from the European Union.

"The support has made a big difference," Victoria says. "The money that would have gone toward rent can now be spent on my daughters, on myself, and on our daily needs."

With support from the EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations through the project "Addressing Urgent Humanitarian Needs of the Vulnerable Refugees and Third-Country Nationals," implemented by IOM, 100 vulnerable families currently residing on the Left Bank, are receiving rental assistance that helps them access safe accommodation while reducing financial pressure.

For Victoria, this support means more than a place to stay. It gives her and her daughters the chance to feel safe, continue building their daily lives, and hold on to the hope of returning home one day.