The Warmth of Home – A Dream Come True for a Family in Soroca
Published: Feb 6, 2026 Reading time: 3 minutes Share: Share an articleFor many of us, the “warmth of home” is a natural feeling, made invisible through daily repetition. We sense it when we return in the evening from work, school, or a journey. Yet, for others, this feeling is a rare luxury—or worse, a mere dream. In Moldova, there are families who have not known the stability of a home for years.
Nelea, a single mother from the town of Soroca, knows this reality all too well. She is raising her five children on her own after years of insecurity—moving from one temporary place to another and living with “occasional” hosts. Nelea belongs to the Roma community, a background that has often meant additional barriers to social inclusion. Recently, her family received a social apartment provided by the municipal authorities. For the first time, her children have a space they can call “home,” without the fear that they might have to leave the very next day—an important step in reducing the risk of neglect and potential separation from their parent.
Moving into their own home is not the end of their struggles. The apartment was empty: no furniture, no beds, none of the necessities of a decent life.
To help turn their apartment into a real home, People in Need Moldova provided Nelea with financial support. Through PLACE II project, funded by the European Union, the family received over 24,000 Moldovan lei to buy furniture: a sofa, bunk beds, mattresses, and a wardrobe for clothes and personal belongings. This support was aimed at ensuring that the children could continue living together with their mother in a safe and dignified family setting, preventing institutionalization.
For Nelea, who supports her entire family on a monthly salary of around 6,000 lei, this help was decisive.
For the entire family, this assistance marked the beginning of a new feeling—perhaps the most important of all: the warmth of a real home.
Among the five children, Nastea, a 10-year-old girl, stands out for her surprising maturity. Asked how she felt when she moved into the new apartment, her answer is simple yet profound:
Although their living conditions are gradually improving, the children’s dreams remain modest and deeply practical.
For Nelea, the next big wish is a washing machine—an ordinary appliance for some, but essential for a large family.
Asked by our team what she would like to become when she grows up, Nastea answers without hesitation:
