UKRAINE
SUPPORT FOR REFUGEE FAMILIES IN MOLDOVA & ROMANIA
Millions of Ukrainians are fleeing the Russian invasion in their country and crossing the borders into Romania and Moldova where we are supporting our local partner organisations, who are providing food, clothing, shelter and now, longer term support.
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At 5am on the first day of the war in Ukraine, Anastasia’s home-city of Odessa was bombed. She left for Chișinău, Moldova, the same day with her mother and two year old son, Platosha. Her husband sadly died of cancer when Platosha was very young and she said that she’d already lost a loved one and couldn’t bear to lose another.
Anastasia, her mother and Platosha found shelter at the Speranta Centre we support in Moldova. At first, Anastasia was distraught and struggled to navigate her new environment. With their financial situation being difficult, Anastasia was hired as Speranta's office administrator. Anastasia is now responsible for welcoming newcomers from Ukraine, showing Speranta’s premises and helping them get set up in Moldova. |
WORKING ON 'THE EDGE' IN MOLDOVA AND ROMANIA
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WHAT WE ARE DOING TO HELP
We are working with local partners to provide accommodation, food, clothing and support for refugees in Moldova and Romania. Our Ukraine Appeal is raising funds to support this work.
In the initial stages of the crisis, most refugees transited through Moldova and Romania and our services focused on supporting refugees for a short period before they moved on. However, many Ukrainian refugees are now settling in Romania and Moldova as the conflict in Ukraine continues.
We are working with our partner organisations to support these refugees and ensure they have the long term support they need to recover from the trauma of fleeing their homes and adjust to life in their host countries.
Children on the Edge have a long history of working in the region, it's where we began in 1990 and worked until 2012 with local partners. Our relationships with these organisations remain strong to this day and we are supporting them as they respond to the crisis on the ground, which is rapidly evolving.
As the situation evolves, we will continue to meet the needs identified by our partners; always supporting those who are most on the edge. Read on to find out more and keep an eye on our Latest Stories for news and updates.
In the initial stages of the crisis, most refugees transited through Moldova and Romania and our services focused on supporting refugees for a short period before they moved on. However, many Ukrainian refugees are now settling in Romania and Moldova as the conflict in Ukraine continues.
We are working with our partner organisations to support these refugees and ensure they have the long term support they need to recover from the trauma of fleeing their homes and adjust to life in their host countries.
Children on the Edge have a long history of working in the region, it's where we began in 1990 and worked until 2012 with local partners. Our relationships with these organisations remain strong to this day and we are supporting them as they respond to the crisis on the ground, which is rapidly evolving.
As the situation evolves, we will continue to meet the needs identified by our partners; always supporting those who are most on the edge. Read on to find out more and keep an eye on our Latest Stories for news and updates.
MOLDOVA
Initially the crisis in Moldova saw most refugees transit through the country into Europe where we were supporting three transit centres; on the border in Tudora, in the capital Chișinău, and north of the city in Vatici.
The numbers of refugees coming over the border have now slowed and people are choosing to stay in Moldova rather than move on into Europe. The centre in Tudora is now being used for long term accommodation by two families and our focus is on supporting the larger centres in Chișinău and Vatici through our partners, Speranta.
The numbers of refugees coming over the border have now slowed and people are choosing to stay in Moldova rather than move on into Europe. The centre in Tudora is now being used for long term accommodation by two families and our focus is on supporting the larger centres in Chișinău and Vatici through our partners, Speranta.
CHISINAU
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The centre in Chișinău is supporting 17 Ukrainian refugees and now has a much slower rate of transit. Of the recent new arrivals, one has chronic oncological issues, one is affected by osteoporosis and one by arthritis. We are helping them access the care they need in Moldova.
Many government-funded services still exist for refugees in Moldova; parks and attractions are free to attend and phone calls to Ukraine and mobile data are free for refugees. This is making a huge difference to the day to day quality of life for refugees, especially being able to keep in touch with male family members who remain in Ukraine to contribute to the war effort. However, as other provision (both government and non-government) closes; reduces capacity; or sets certain restrictions on beneficiaries; there are more requests for help directed at Speranta, especially for refugees with disabilities. |
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VATICI
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The Vatici centre is supporting 130 refugees on a long term basis and offers a safe and welcoming space for families to recover from their trauma.
Initially those staying here would sleep in their clothes with the light on for fear of having to flee again; but now they are able to relax more and engage in daily life. Refugees are being supported by a social worker and psychologist, and are working together in peer groups to work through trauma. Many refugees are helping with the ongoing running of the centre, including cooking and cleaning and even caring for the onsite bee hives. This is helping build daily routine and normalcy. |
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The initial fear for life has, for many, now been replaced by a deep concern for their medium term care in the host country (with a noticeable drop in service provision elsewhere) as well as their long term future of their homes in Ukraine. As the conflict has become more defined and broadly focused on the east of Ukraine, some families have made short trips back to their homes to check on the state of their property. However they do not deem it safe enough to return long term nor do they see an end to the crisis on the horizon. |
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ROMANIA
In Romania, we are working with local partners, ADO. We initially set up a dedicated, flexible emergency fund so our partners could respond to the needs of the most marginalised refugees as they emerged.
We are now focused on supporting work around the city of Iasi in two main areas. Firstly, a drop in centre for all refugees in the city where they can receive material support and secondly supporting 43 children from an orphanage in Ukraine who fled to Iasi after they were bombed.
We are now focused on supporting work around the city of Iasi in two main areas. Firstly, a drop in centre for all refugees in the city where they can receive material support and secondly supporting 43 children from an orphanage in Ukraine who fled to Iasi after they were bombed.
DROP IN CENTRE
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The drop in centre has been a phenomenal success in supporting the vast majority of the Ukrainian refugee population in Iasi. The centre is open 2 -3 times a week and operates out of space donated by a local business. Ukrainian refugees in and around Iasi are able to attend the drop-in for all kinds of support, including help to access medical appointments and prescription services and to collect items that they may need; including clothes, shoes and hygiene products. Several hundred refugees access this service at each session. As is typical in many areas, the initial wave of Romanian public and business support for refugees has subsided. So we are now purchasing food for each distribution session. |
Refugees queuing at the drop in centre
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BUCIUM ORPHANAGE
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We are supporting 43 children from Ukraine without parental care who arrived in to the Iasi region after their group home in Dnipro was bombed. Our partners have been working with the Child Protection Department in Romania to house these children, along with their carers in a centre in Iasi.
We are providing a social worker and psychologist support alongside daily activities with the children, including Romanian language lessons to help them integrate in the local schools. |
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Additionally, as donations from the local community have waned, we are supporting the nutrition of all the children with extra food to supplement what the authorities are providing. This includes fruit, milk and some sweets for special occasions. Utilising local support, we have also refurbished parts of the building, including an activity room with new floors and windows as well as equipment. We regularly take the children on days out to help with their socialisation. Children on the Edge have significant experience in working with children without parental care in Romania. |
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FUTURE PLANS
With the refugee population spread over the city, coming together to meet families in similar situations, and building community has been highlighted as a need for both adults and children. To help with this, we are planning to run daily afternoon activities where children can play, and parents can sit and chat from a venue offered by another NGO. We aim to have these up and running as soon as the refurbishments of the building are complete.
Map showing where Children on the Edge are currently working in Moldova and Romania
OUR HISTORY IN EASTERN EUROPE
Our co-founder and CEO Rachel Bentley visited Romania with Dame Anita Roddick in 1990 to help institutionalised children left in orphanages from the brutal Ceaușescu regime. This trip marked the very beginning of Children on the Edge.
Initially, our work in Romania involved helping three orphanages in the small village of Halaucesti in the Iasi district, in rural north-east Romania. We went on to support an early-years special needs centre in a suburb of Iasi where our partner organisation, Sansa Mea has worked miracles in turning around the lives of children with severe disabilities.
We also worked closely with the authorities of the Iasi region of Romania to change the pattern of institutionalisation and ensure that young people who grew up in state care learnt the necessary social and practical living skills to allow them to live independently in society. We also coached them in being able to access the services that will help them as they moved into adulthood. Fundatia COTE, our local partner in Romania is now fully independent and has a whole array of services for vulnerable teenagers.
In Moldova, to tackle the problem of children living in poverty without adequate care, at risk of abuse, institutionalisation, trafficking and exploitation, Children on the Edge developed our Child Friendly Space model in rural Moldova where the dangers were most evident.
This ‘Child Friendly Space’ in Moldova consisted of a converted house and area of land that acted as a centre for activities in the village.This centre serves over 200 vulnerable children of all ages and aims to protect and support these children as well as building community relations. In the years since the Centre was established, it became the hub of the community. Work with the children at the Centre has reduced the crime rate and increased school attendance in a way that will significantly halt the common cycle of poverty and vulnerability.
We assisted our local partners to become an independent Moldovan run organisation, now running the centre and using independent local funding.
CAN YOUR BUSINESS SUPPORT US?
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Is your company looking for a way to support refugees in the wake of the devastating conflict in Ukraine?
We are grateful for the generous support from some brilliant businesses across the UK who are fundraising for our Ukraine Crisis Appeal through their sales. You can join them and make a a positive difference, whatever your size. Work for Good helps charities with this and businesses can set up the necessary legal agreements for sales fundraising in a matter of minutes. Contact fundraising@childrenontheedge.org to find out more or chat to a member of the team about how you can support our work. |
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YOU MIGHT LIKE
READ ABOUT THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND IN ROMANIA AND MOLDOVA AND HOW WE'RE HELPING
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CASH OR STUFF? WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO HELP? READ OUR BLOG
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READ ABOUT HOW WE HAVE GONE BACK TO OUR ROOTS IN ROMANIA
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READ ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM UKRAINE ON OUR BLOG >>
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Please donate now to support Ukrainian families fleeing conflict in Moldova and Romania
Anything you can contribute will make a difference, and go directly to supporting Ukrainian refugee families where it is needed most. We are in regular contact with our partner organisations and contacts on the ground in Moldova and Romania where the situation is changing on a daily basis.
