Finding strength in family again

When Nodira (name changed) was only 14, she began running away from home. Her childhood was marked by pain – her father, struggling with alcoholism, often turned violent, and even forced her to buy alcohol for him when she was still little. Her mother, Lola, also suffered from domestic violence and could not protect her daughter.

After her parents divorced, Nodira hoped life would improve. But instead, the conflict between her and her mother grew worse. When Lola (name changed) remarried, tensions in the household escalated. At one point, Lola even filed a complaint with the authorities, asking that her daughter be taken away. Nodira was removed from the home, and her mother was fined for neglecting her parental duties. The family received no support services at that time.

One night, after running away again, Nodira was attacked by other teenagers and hospitalized. That was when a psychologist from the Inson Social Service Centre stepped in.

A safe space to be heard

Sitting beside Nodira’s hospital bed, the psychologist listened. At last, the girl found an adult she could trust. “My mother doesn’t need me. She dreams of getting rid of me,” Nodira said quietly. For years she had heard only insults and humiliation at home.

The Inson specialist also spoke with Lola, who works long shifts as a nurse in intensive care. Exhausted after work, she had little energy left for her children. “I come home drained. I can’t spend time with the children, especially with the one who is always called a ‘problem’,” she admitted.

But beneath the conflict, the psychologist saw another story. Nodira was bright, sensitive, and creative. She loved to draw, cook, and study languages – already fluent in Korean at only 14. What she lacked was encouragement and a loving parent by her side. “There were days when I felt so lonely and unwanted that I lost my will to live,” Nodira confessed.

Rebuilding trust

The Inson centre began working with the family on two fronts – supporting Nodira while also helping her mother. Step by step, the psychologist taught Lola about the impact of stress and adolescence on children, introducing her to positive parenting and non-violent communication techniques.

“Parents sometimes forget that children need praise as much as food or shelter,” the psychologist explains. “Even a small word of encouragement can mean the world.” Together, they created new routines – family dialogues, moments spent outdoors, and simple acts of appreciation at home.

Slowly, things began to change.

A brighter tomorrow

Now 16, Nodira is studying at college, continuing her Korean language classes, and looking toward the future with renewed confidence. At home, the shouting has subsided, replaced by calmer conversations and more time together as a family. “We began to live more amicably,” Nodira says with a shy smile.

This transformation was supported through the EU-funded project “EU-UN Support for Central Asian Citizens Returning from Conflict Zones”, which strengthens family support and psychosocial support services in Uzbekistan. By equipping specialists with the skills to work with both parents and children, the project helps vulnerable families like Nodira’s find new ways to heal, grow, and stay together.

For the psychologist, Nodira’s journey is proof that change is possible. “When families are willing to work together and accept support, conflicts can be resolved, trust can be rebuilt, and love can grow again.”