Tiptoeing into a new life: how Yevhen found his voice

In a therapy room, seven-year-old Yevhen sits quietly, wooden sticks in both hands. He taps them gently on the table - not yet in rhythm, but with purpose. Just a few months ago, even this small gesture would have seemed out of reach.

Originally from Teplodar, in Ukraine’s Odesa region, Yevhen fled the war with his mother, Yaroslava, in 2022. Diagnosed with severe autism, he struggled to adjust to a new country, its language, and unfamiliar systems. Like many refugee families, they arrived in Moldova carrying little more than hope - and many unanswered questions.

“When we first arrived, we didn’t know if he would ever go to school,” says Yaroslava, his mother. “He didn’t speak. He didn’t respond to us. He would scream, lie on the floor. I didn’t know who to ask for help.”

Those first days were full of fear and uncertainty. But what could have become a story of despair slowly turned into one of quiet resilience. Raising a child with a disability is never simple. Doing so while displaced - without support, without a roadmap - can feel overwhelming.

“When the war started, I was terrified,” Yaroslava says. “But I knew I couldn’t give up. My son needs me. It’s just the two of us.”

Even with strength, it is not enough. The journey to help children with disabilities depends on more than one person’s effort.

That journey eventually led Yaroslava and her son to NeuroImpuls.

“Nothing in this world is harder than truly understanding another person. And without understanding, you cannot begin to help.” That’s how Doina Mafteuta, founder of the NeuroImpuls Rehabilitation Centre in Chișinău, Moldova’s capital, describes her work.

“Most parents arrive lost. They are not looking for miracles — they are looking for someone who sees their child, not just the diagnosis.” says Doina.

But finding the right support often takes time, and many refugee parents don’t know where to start or who to turn to.

That’s where Keystone Moldova comes in. As a national NGO working in partnership with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, Keystone supports children and adults with disabilities – both from refugee and host communities – by identifying needs and helping families access the right support. Whether it’s therapy, inclusive education, counselling, or social support, the goal is to connect people to care that recognises their dignity and potential.

With support from UNHCR, Keystone was able to accompany Yaroslava on her path, guiding her to the NeuroImpuls Rehabilitation Centre, a space in Chișinău where her son could begin the specialized therapy he needed. It was through this connection that Yaroslava met one of the first people to truly listen: Dr. Tatiana Cataramă, a therapist working with Keystone Moldova.

“Every child I help connect to therapy has a story,” says Dr. Tatiana Cataramă. “But what they all need is consistency. It’s never just about a few sessions. They need time, trust, and steady support. The progress we see is real - but so is the growing need.”

With years of experience supporting children with disabilities, she knows how essential it is not only to offer therapy, but to help families feel safe, understood, and supported every step of the way.

Thanks to this partnership, Yevhen received 12 free sessions of psychomotricity and sensory integration therapy - specialized care that made a real difference not only in his development, but also in helping him and his mother adjust to their lives in Moldova.

The therapy offered him a sense of stability after displacement, while also supporting his ability to interact in a new environment. Gradually, what once felt overwhelming became less frightening. With every small breakthrough, Moldova began to feel not just like a place of refuge - but a place where he could begin to grow.

“When Keystone guided me to this centre, it was the first time I felt I was no longer carrying this alone.” says Yaroslava. “That moment changed everything.”

Encouraged by his progress, Yevhen is now enrolled in a specialized school in Chișinău.

“Now he shows me things. He plays. He understands when I speak. And yes - he even started school.”

Through UNHCR's partnerships, refugee families receive assistance to cover their basic needs, but also specialized support to rebuild their lives with dignity. This early intervention is important for children with disabilities, as it helps them integrate and participate fully, both in schools and in their daily lives.

“I still don’t know what the future holds,” Yaroslava says. “But now I see that we have one.” In Moldova, where she once arrived carrying the heavy weight of uncertainty, Yaroslava and Yevhen found something more impactful: a genuine path to a brighter future, supported by those who believed in their potential.