Natalia, a refugee from Ukraine and mother of two daughters, was found surrounded by children in a village near Chisinau, Gratiesti. She carefully helped the little girls gathered at the handicraft class to make flowers out of paper and glue. The children are so focused on the work they are all doing together that we barely manage to distract them for a short chat.
We hide in the basement without food and water. It’s been a nightmare few days
“We’ll pour small plaster pots and make an ikebana,” says a smiling Natalia, proud of the work of her pupils, who include both refugee and Gratiesti children. Natalia says she likes coming to the youth centre in Gratiesti, where the “My Generation” voluntary association organises these after-school classes. Here she forgets the horrors of war and that she had to give up everything she had been before…
Natalia also brings her own children to these classes. One of her daughters comes here every time with her mother to the youth centre. That way, Natalia says, she learns Romanian more easily and makes friends. The little girl also likes to make “diamond mosaics”. These paintings are made by the children of the centre, also under Natalia’s guidance. All the paintings have been displayed on the wall for everyone who comes to the Centre to see.
“I came to Moldova at the beginning of 2022 – Natalia recalls, in a brief discussion with representatives of the Alliance of NGOs active in the field of child and family social protection (APSCF). I came from Kramatorsk where shells were falling every hour. Children, women, old people were dying. Houses were burning. We were hiding in the basement, without food and water. Those were nightmarish days that my children and I will never forget. Here I have peace, and I and the girls…”
Here I can paint again
Another protagonist of this article found solace in art at the youth centre in Gratiesti. Sabina, a 19-year-old refugee from Zaporozhye, Ukraine. At home the girl was passionate about painting. She wanted to go to university to develop her talent. But… the war came.
After taking refuge with her family in Moldova, Sabina started attending the youth centre in Gratiesti. Mrs Maria Boico, executive director of the “My Generation” Association, noticed the girl’s talent and decided to seek financial support to provide her with painting lessons.
Today Sabina has the opportunity to return to her passion. “Here I can paint again,” says the girl, smiling shyly, looking proudly at her work neatly arranged on the studio wall.
Children don’t need to know what war is, and those who have been through it will never forget it
All these activities are attended by more than 40 children, refugees and those from the community. In addition to the above activities, they also have classes in English, guitar and robotics. Mrs. Maria Boico, says that all these activities take place with the support of the project “Assisting Moldovan NGOs in supporting Ukrainian refugees – Phase III”, implemented by APSCF, with the financial support provided by Help-Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe.
Although these projects target refugees from Ukraine, the benefits of the project are enjoyed by the whole community of Gratiesti, says Maria Boico. And the activities supported by Help-Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe help to strengthen relationships and interaction between the native population and the forcibly displaced.
“Refugee children who attend the Youth Centre in Gratiesti are different from the local ones only in one moment, says Maria Boico, the way they look at you. These children have the fear and dread of war in their eyes.” The headmistress says she frequently hears from parents of refugee children the phrase “Children don’t need to know what war is, and those who have been through it will never forget it”.
This year A.O. “My Generation” is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The effect of the organisation’s work for children is one that society feels over the years. Some of the children who now come to the centre are brought by their parents, who also had a colourful childhood thanks to the centre’s support.
From July to December 2023, the Alliance of NGOs Active in the Field of Social Protection of Children and Families (APSCF) is implementing the project “Assisting NGOs in Moldova in Supporting Ukrainian Refugees – Phase III” with financial support from Help-Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe. Through this project 11 organizations, members of APSCF, have financial support for the implementation of support activities for Ukrainian refugees.