⏳A heartbreaking journey to safety: Ecaterina, a refugee from Ukraine, rebuilds her life in the Republic of Moldova.
Following the war in Ukraine, thousands of women and children were forced to leave their homes in search of a safe haven. Among them is Ecaterina, a mother of three from the Odessa region🤱, who found protection in the Cantemir district, Republic of Moldova. For her, the psychologist of the Mobile Team🚍 – Safe Space for Women and Girls tells us. Women and Girls Safe Space Cahul, the war was not only a tragedy, but also a chance to escape another type of war – the domestic violence she had endured for years.
Life before the war – a daily struggle for survival.
For many years, Ecaterina lived with an aggressive husband, who consumed excessive alcohol🥃 and frequently resorted to violence, not only against her, but also against his children. She had long wanted to escape from this nightmare, but she had nowhere to go. The only possible option was her sister, who had settled in the Republic of Moldova. But the lack of passports for her and the children, the lack of money to complete the documents, and the strict control imposed by her husband – who did not allow her to take the children out of the country – kept her captive in a life of terror.
The road to safety🚦
When the war broke out, the chaos and the opening of the borders created an unexpected opportunity for Ecaterina to flee. She gathered her children and crossed the border🚧 without documents, with a heavy heart but full of hope. Initially, they were hosted by her sister, then they rented an apartment. After a few months, they lost their shelter and ended up on the streets. With the help of humanitarian organizations, which provided them with food, hygiene products and vouchers, Ecaterina managed to save pennies and buy a modest house in the community that extended a helping hand.
A new life for children
Today, Ecaterina’s eldest daughter graduated from the 9th grade🏫, and the other two children regularly attend kindergarten. The challenges have not disappeared, but Ecaterina is no longer alone. The local community and international organizations support her, and her dream of peace and stability is becoming a reality, step by step. She says she is happy here and that she never wants to return to the past she fled from.
Support from the Mobile Team🚍 – Safe Space for Women and Girls. Women and Girls Safe Space
In isolated villages in southern Moldova, many refugees do not have access to essential services. Mobile Team – Safe Space for Women and Girls. Women and Girls Safe Space Cahul travels to these communities, offering women psychological counseling, information about their rights, and methods for preventing domestic violence.
For Ecaterina, the meetings with the psychologist and social worker were a turning point:
💬“I learned that I am not guilty of the abuse I endured. I understood that I have the right to a life without fear,” she confessed with tears in her eyes in one of the individual sessions.
🟠We are convinced that only together, through joint, consolidated efforts, can we face the challenges.
UNFPA Moldova
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