From fear to happiness
A Ukrainian family's journey to a new life in Romania - How Alina, Zlata, and Polina found the strength to start over
- English
- Română
At 16, Alina starts her day surrounded by paintbrushes, colors, and clay. She divides her time between school, where she studies painting, drawing, and modeling, and piano, a passion she discovered in elementary school. Her younger sister, Zlata, is 10 years old and a pupil. She quickly made friends here, and math has become her favorite subject. After school, she participates in activities at a community hub for Ukrainian children. "I love my friends in Romania," she says enthusiastically.
Their mother, Polina, remembers the difficult beginnings. In Kiev, she was the deputy headmistress of a medical high school, and their life was stable: home, work, school.
"I had everything I wanted. And then, in an instant, I lost everything. I left with only a small bag of medicine, my girls, my mother, my sister, the dog, and the cat. We had to start from scratch".
They spent their first weeks in Romania in Câmpina, in a small hotel, where volunteers and locals supported them. "It was a wonderful time because many people helped us. We received clothes, food, money, and even laptops for school. We didn't feel alone." Later, the family moved to Ploiești, where, together with other parents, Polina set up an educational hub for Ukrainian children.
Now they live in Bucharest, and Polina works as a mediator between Romanian schools and Ukrainian parents. "I help parents and teachers communicate. At first it was difficult, the children didn't understand the language. Now they read, write, and have friends. And that matters enormously."
The adjustment was not without challenges, especially for Polina. "For me, the language is the hardest part. I understand almost everything, but I still can't speak fluently. The girls, however, are learning quickly, they feel comfortable at school, and they haven't had any problems integrating. They always tell me they don't want vacation, they want to go to school. And that's the best sign that they're doing well." For Alina, the change became easier with art school. The teachers and classmates welcomed her warmly, and she rediscovered the power of dreaming. She likes foreign languages, even though she finds Romanian and English difficult. "I would like to paint a famous picture, something that will last," she says.
"I believe that everything that happens is for the best".
Today, Romania is the place where the family feels at home again. They spend their weekends together, and every day brings them closer to normality.
Polina has rebuilt her life here with her two daughters and husband, and feels stable again. "I am finally at peace," she adds. If she had to sum up the last few years in three words, they would be: "Fear. Zero. Happiness." Her dream is to continue as a school mediator and build her future here with her family.
"Step by step, we are moving towards our dream. All I want is a normal, good life for my daughters. And I feel that we are on the right track."
Since the start of the war in 2022, UNICEF and its partners have supported refugee children and families from Ukraine through social integration programs, access to health services, and inclusion in Romanian schools. Educational centers, Romanian language courses, psychological support, and safe spaces for mothers have provided stability and balance far from home. All of this has been possible with the support of the United States Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, a trusted partner in the integration of Ukrainian children in Romania.
The story of Alina, Zlata, and Polina show how, beyond loss and uncertainty, the support they received and their desire to move forward can restore meaning to a normal life. Romania has become the place that has given them the confidence to look to the future. Today, fear has turned into peace, and their steps are bringing them closer and closer to a normal life full of hope.
