Maria, a 55-year-old refugee woman, was forced to leave her country because of the conflict that took away everything she loved: her home, her hometown, her community, but most of all, her family members. One night, relentless attacks hit the city, causing these situations to be on the edge of the day. Heartbroken, Maria was forced to leave for another country where she would be safe, and that was the Republic of Moldova, where she hoped to find peace.
For Maria, mourning was not only a loss of loved ones, but also of an entire world. Every day, she feels a huge void in her soul and struggles to accept reality. Sometimes, she remembers the faces of those she lost and feels like she can no longer breathe. Other times, she is overwhelmed by a feeling of guilt that she survived, although she would have liked everyone to be safe, together.
In the new country she finds herself in, Maria feels alien and alone. Although she is surrounded by kind people, she cannot escape the feeling of isolation and longing for “home”.
Maria tries to rebuild her life, but the pain of losses and the uncertainty of the future weigh heavily on her shoulders. In an attempt to cope with the pain, she came to counseling with the #SafeSpace psychologist from the Artemida Public Association, as a result of which she began to feel that she could find the strength to move on. Although the wounds are deep and the longing is overwhelming, hope begins to creep into her soul, giving her the courage to imagine a new beginning.
The psychologist offered her a safe space where she could freely express her emotions, as a result of which she learned techniques to maintain her well-being.
The counseling session not only restored her balance, but also the confidence that she will be able to build a new life, one in which she can smile again, without the fear of losing everything.
We are convinced that only together, through consolidated joint efforts, can we face the challenges.
UNFPA Moldova #SafeSpace
