A new life, a new home: The story of our Ukrainian colleagues helping other refugees

Three years have passed since a ruthless war shook the lives of Natalia Solovei and Alisa Nechytailo, our colleagues at People in Need Moldova. With heavy hearts, they left their homes in Ukraine, leaving behind memories, dreams, and loved ones. The Republic of Moldova became their refuge, and today, this country is not just a temporary shelter but a place where they have rebuilt their lives. Not only have they integrated into Moldovan society, but they are also striving to offer other Ukrainian children a chance at a better life.

Natalia Solovei: Support for refugee children

Natalia Solovei, a former teacher in Odesa, is now a facilitator at the EDUTech laboratory at "Petru Movilă" Theoretical High School in Chișinău. She fled the bombings that had turned Odesa into an unsafe place and arrived in Moldova with her two children, one of whom was only seven months old.

"It was an extremely difficult day. We walked to the border, in the cold and sleet, alongside my mother. Once we arrived in Moldova, volunteers supported us, housed us, and helped us get our lives back on track,"

Natalia recalls.

Today, in a modern educational laboratory, Natalia helps Ukrainian children continue learning and feel part of a community. For her, work is not just a job but a mission: "Until we can return home, we are doing everything we can to help those who have chosen Moldova as a refuge."

Alisa Nechytailo: From tragedy to hope

While Natalia fled with her children, Alisa Nechytailo arrived in Moldova on the first day of the war with her husband and daughter. A few days later, her husband returned to defend their country and was killed on the battlefield. Since then, Alisa's life has been divided into "before" and "after" the tragedy.

"We had a beautiful life in Odesa: our own business, stable jobs. Everything was destroyed in an instant. We had to start from scratch: make new friends, adapt, find the motivation to move forward,"

Alisa says with tears in her eyes.

Today, she is an educational coordinator at People in Need Moldova, overseeing more than 10 EDUTech laboratories. Her mission is clear: to create a friendly educational environment for refugee children so that they do not lose access to education.

"The war forced them to leave their schools. Here, we offer them the chance to continue learning and to have a future. We hope for peace, but until then, we dedicate ourselves to helping others,"

she explains.

Hope in uncertain times

The stories of our colleagues, Natalia and Alisa, are those of courage, pain, and hope. Not only have they rebuilt their lives, but they have also become pillars of support for other refugees. In a world marked by uncertainty, they are living proof that empathy and solidarity can bring light even in the darkest times.