12 July 2024, Chisinau: I am working on a list of tasks to complete by my last day at UNICEF, where I have served as a communications officer for two years during the refugee crisis. As I outline my objectives, I notice a small blue paper on my computer with the following message I wrote one day ago, "send the article to Tatiana."
Tatiana is a mother from Donetsk, Ukraine, who gave birth in Moldova after fleeing the war. Thanks to UNICEF's interventions in the social protection and health systems, she safely delivered her baby in Balti and received financial aid of around 20,000 MDL.This support allowed her to purchase essential goods for her child and provided her with a sense of security. When I visited her in Pelinia, Drochia district, she shared her life story and emphasized how crucial this support is for Ukrainian mothers. "Many mothers don't have money for food and rent," Tatiana said while holding her four-month-old son, David. As I usually do after publishing each human story, I sent it to Tatiana to ensure I honoured her trust in sharing her challenging journey to safety with me.
Tatiana is one of the 28 heroes whose stories I have documented during my tenure. These stories include children and mothers who fled the war in Ukraine and needed urgent help to survive, as well as those from Moldova who required support to cope with extreme poverty or needed improved health services, therapy, and learning opportunities. All these lives have been positively transformed by UNICEF's interventions in Moldova.
Reflecting on my early days at UNICEF, I recall the intense activity in March, a month after the war started. My colleagues worked continuously. It reminded me of the busiest times during the COVID-19 pandemic and my experience at the Ministry of Health. I saw tired faces but focused on concrete and quickly delivered actions for the hundreds of children and mothers crowding to cross Moldova's border and frightened by the horrors of the war. In their eyes, you could see despair, fear, and loss. For these children, every conversation with a psychologist or social worker, supported by UNICEF at the Blue Dot centers, was a lifeline. They could breathe again and hope everything would be okay, even though their world had been upside down.
One story that deepened my appreciation for being part of the UNICEF team is Alexandru's. He is one of the unaccompanied children and youth who fled the war. Supported by UNICEF, child protection specialists, border police, and local authorities identified and placed him in a foster family in Moldova. "My father and mother put me on the bus. They knew that I would be able to take care of myself," Alexandru shared. This social service offers safety to these children, who are at high risk of violence, abuse, and trafficking. It is the most crucial feeling that allows a child and youth to dream, learn, make friends, and thrive.
The stories of Alexandru and more than 900 other children and youth from Ukraine, identified at Moldova's border as unaccompanied or separated from their parents, underscore the importance of UNICEF having the necessary resources and mechanisms to act quickly and effectively. "At first, I thought they would put me in an institution for children, but then I learned I would stay with a family who also had their children. They were all so nice, and it felt like living with relatives," Alexandru said, smiling at Doyna, his foster mother.
A few months after meeting Alexandru, I had the privilege of organizing a media content mission related to UNICEF's programmes in Moldova. The photographer was none other than Giacomo Pirozzi, who has illustrated UNICEF programmes worldwide. We travelled across the country for almost two weeks, visiting more than 30 locations supported by UNICEF, such as schools, kindergartens, refugee centres, health centres, play and learning hubs, and families. In all these locations, more than ever, I witnessed and felt the impact of UNICEF's work to provide a better life for children and mothers in Moldova, including refugees. In many of the stories I heard, I saw reflections of my own childhood, reinforcing my motivation to continue working for every child.
Alina and her four children from Bucuria, Cahul, welcomed us into their small, clean apartment, where poverty could be felt in all possible forms. Recent data shows that about 40% of children in Moldova live in extreme poverty. Three-year-old Stanislav, tightly holding onto his 11-year-old brother Liviu's arm, greeted us with curiosity in his eyes. Despite his young age, Liviu has taken on the responsibility of caring for his siblings and being a dependable aid to his parents. However, education remains a priority for him and his 7-year-old sister Renata. "They do not have any issues at school, understanding that their future depends on it," says Alina.
In their eyes, I saw myself many years ago. I, too, was in the depths of poverty when the only hope for tomorrow's meal was for my mother to receive financial support from the social worker. In Alina and her children's case, Ana, the social worker from the village, is their saviour when things get complicated. Each visit of hers meant joy for the whole family. Alina told me that thanks to the financial support from UNICEF, she managed to get through the cold season, but she doesn't know how they will cope in the future as prices continue to rise." Before the price hikes, we could afford a loaf of bread and more. Now, we are just trying to make ends meet," said the young mother. Alina's struggle to see her children fed, clothed, and with access to school mirrors the lives of many parents in Moldova, just as my mother once fought so that I could finish school and have a future in this world. Without UNICEF's interventions, the future of these children is in danger.
Upon returning from the mission, I wanted to tell every colleague I met how proud I am of their work for the children in Moldova, how their efforts change the lives and futures of hundreds of thousands of children, and how crucial it is to continue. Just as I was once helped by social workers, doctors, and teachers, these children also need help to thrive. Every child has a dream and is ready to create and learn to turn it into reality. For example, I have dreamed of being a journalist since I was seven, which motivated me to read and study. Today, I am trying to help other children like me through my work. Also, Darya from Odesa, Ukraine, wants to become an artist. Despite the war in Ukraine stealing her stability, she continued her dance lessons in Moldova. Moreover, thanks to UNICEF’s interventions in the education system, she made new friends at her school in Chisinau and continues to participate in creative activities at a play and learning hub established by UNICEF.
All these stories demonstrate the significant mission of every member of the UNICEF team - to give disadvantaged children a chance to become champions of change and promote their rights. Through their future contributions as doctors, teachers, soldiers, or whatever brings them joy, these children will create a better world.
For me, UNICEF has been the teacher I needed to truly understand that every person, no matter where they are or the context they are in, can contribute to improving lives, especially those of children, through small, concrete actions and healthy habits. UNICEF has demonstrated the transformative power of a united team with a unique mission and the joy of giving when you act with passion for the benefit of every child.
I will continue to develop in communication, telling stories and motivating other girls to believe in their powers and reach their full potential. As I prepare to say goodbye to the most fantastic team I have ever met, I am ready to embark on a new academic experience called Fulbright to excel in everything I do and become a better person. Thank you, UNICEF, for everything you did for me and the children in Moldova. I hope to rejoin this team soon.
