From Odesa to Moldova: Anatolii and Taisia’s Path through Displacement
Taisia, aged 71, and Anatolii, aged 74, share a remarkable life journey that transcends the challenges of displacement. Their story began on the dance floors of Odesa, where Anatolii took a chance and approached the beautiful Taisia. Their connection deepened, leading to a happy marriage and two children. Their life in Odesa turned into turmoil when Russian Federation launched their full-scale invasion in Ukraine. Faced with the escalating situation, Anatolii and Taisia’s children, concerned for their parents’ safety, convinced them to seek refuge in the Republic of Moldova. In...
Empowering Voices: UNHCR’s Participatory Assessments 2023
Every year UNHCR and its partner organizations, hold meetings where refugees of all ages and backgrounds can share their experiences and concerns as part of the Participatory assessment (PA). This includes separate discussions with different groups, like women, girls, boys, and men. These talks help UNHCR and everyone involved in the Refugee Response to understand the challenges forcibly displaced and stateless people face and find solutions together. This approach empowers communities to work together for their protection, forming the basis for a rights-based and community-based approach....
A journey of resilience: A mother-daughter tale of hope
It’s a cold Tuesday morning in Causeni, a city in the eastern part of the Republic of Moldova. Oxana, 45, and her daughter Polina, 6, are on their way to kindergarten. “Come on love, keep up” Oxana says. They are accompanied by Dima, a dog that usually hangs around the Refugee Accommodation Center where they live. “Polina named the dog after one of her friends in kindergarten here in Moldova” Oxana says. “Now he follows us everywhere!” she laughs. Much like other refugees who left Ukraine due to the full-scale war initiated by the Russian Federation in February 2022, Oxana and Polina...
A refugee’s dream: „sit outside, see the trees and breathe”
Vova is the eldest of three brothers, with whom he grew up in Odesa. A few years ago, after celebrating their last day at school, Vova and his classmates went to the seaside in Odesa. The then 14-year-old decided to jump off a cliff into the water, a decision that would change his life forever. On 1 June, 2015, on Children’s Day, Vova had his first spinal surgery. The boy would spend four more months in the hospital undergoing various procedures. “I brought my personal belongings to the hospital. We felt like we had moved there,” his mother Irina recalls. Now 22,...
A new challenge for cinematography enthusiasts: UNHCR and COR launch the „One Minute Festival: On the Move” film festival
Cinematography enthusiasts are invited to take part in „One Minute Festival: On the Move”, a unique cinematic event that celebrates the art of one-minute storytelling and promote inclusion. The festival is organized by the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the Creative Companies Association of Moldova. The festival is hosted by Mediacor and will bring together, in a creative environment, amateur and professional filmmakers, including refugees, and Moldovan alike over the course of several months. Participants will be challenged to create one-minute films that capture moments related to...
Refugees in Moldova take steps to learn the Romanian language
Marina plays with the trident of the Ukrainian coat of arms she wears as a pendant while listening to Tatiana, her Romanian teacher. Tatiana has made it her goal to teach her class the Romanian phrases needed in everyday life. Marina and her husband Serhii are from Kherson, Ukraine, and have been attending Romanian language lessons in Chisinau for almost two months. They are part of a class of about 40 refugees, and other foreigners living in Moldova. The class meets on a Friday at the Charity Centre for Refugees and shares their experiences of using their Romanian language skills over the...