Story of Hope: World Vision Services Help Anna and her Child Craft New Life in New Surrounding
Anna's journey from Ukraine to Georgia is a touching and resilient story of survival and hope. Fleeing her homeland in July 2022 due to the war in Ukraine, she along with her 11-year-old daughter and 72-year-old mother, embarked on a challenging travel to find safety and stability in a foreign land. “We came by land and passed a long road. When we were entering the country, at the border, the driver was playing a Ukrainian song with lyrics “One day the war will be over,” it was so symbolic and emotional that I started to cry, ” - Anna says while sharing her story. However, as she recounts, the moment they entered Georgia, she instantly felt relieved.
The feeling of being on the "safe side" represents a turning point, marking the beginning of a new chapter filled with opportunities and a chance to rebuild their lives. Initially, Anna and her family received support from relatives of her husband who were living in Georgia. Over time, they moved into a separate rented apartment where they live now. The challenges of adaptation were not easy, but time and the state assistance available for them as well as diverse support provided by World Vision in Georgia helped them to adapt to their new surroundings.
„My husband is a sailor, that’s why he is mostly away. But thanks to him we are managing to pay the rent“. His occupation keeps him away from home frequently, making it necessary for Anna to take on the responsibility of managing their household and raising their daughter. In Georgia, Anna has found support from various sources, including World Vision which plays a crucial role in helping her meet family needs as well as offering various psycho-social services and activities such as counseling sessions, Positive Parenting training, Women’s Club, and more. Anna's decision to approach World Vision was influenced by the recommendation of a classmate who came earlier in Georgia.
“My first priority was to address my mental health concerns, which had been exacerbated by the displacement and stress caused by the war and the separation from my husband for a longer period. All of us, my mother, daughter and I underwent psycho-social counselling sessions provided by World Vision, which proved to be highly effective in helping us navigate the stress and trauma we have experienced."
"The psychologist Sophiko, not only provided valuable advice but also gave me practical guidance, that now I’m applying in my daily life. I recommend everyone try the counselling sessions provided by World Vision. Sometimes we don’t pay attention to our mental state, but in fact, it is very important. My mother also benefited from these meetings, even though she initially believed she didn't need them. This helped us a lot to manage our emotions and thoughts,” - Anna openly elaborated.
Sophiko, who works in World Vision as a psychologist explains, that the primary aim is to ensure a secure and inviting atmosphere where individuals feel safeguarded and empowered to openly articulate their thoughts and feelings. She underscores the vital role parents play in shaping their child's emotional well-being, emphasising that it's imperative for parents to prioritise their own mental health as well.
The psychologist clarifies - “We provide a diverse range of psycho-social activities tailored for individuals of various age groups, spanning from children to adults and the elderly. To date, we have successfully conducted four distinct types of training sessions. These encompass emotional intelligence, assertive behaviour training, and more. This environment fosters the opportunity for sharing personal experiences and receiving constructive feedback, ultimately promoting growth and well-being.”
Anna's positive experience with counselling highlights the transformative power of mental health support and the positive influence it can have on one's overall well-being. These sessions along with the financial support of the organisation helped her also to overcome the negative psychological effects caused by the severe illness. A 39-year-old woman has recently defeated breast cancer, now she feels better, however, Anna needs regular health check-ups and consultations to maintain her well-being.
“In the beginning, it was hard for me to find the doctor and do the examinations. But then thanks to World Vision support and financial assistance, I managed to visit the clinic, consult with the doctor and purchase all needed medications”, - she adds.
Anna’s daughter goes to a local public school in Georgia, where she has an opportunity to study in Ukrainian language. Apart from that, in her free time, she regularly attends World Vision Georgia’s Education and Development Centre - Happy Space, where she is involved in various classes, enabling her to socialise and play with other Ukrainian children.
“Instead of spending all her time at home, Happy Space provides a vibrant social space for children where they engage in different interesting activities that nurture their personal growth and enable them to maintain their native language and culture. Moreover, participating in psychological sessions for teenagers is proving to be incredibly advantageous, because now she is in the transitional period and the challenges and stresses that come with it can accumulate," - says Anna, who also noticed that her daughter has become more open and communicative, readily sharing her thoughts, feelings, and daily experiences with her.
As she describes it, this space holds a profound significance for both parents and children. To improve her relationship with her daughter and support her development and adaptation to a new environment, Anna also attends Positive Parenting sessions provided by the organisation, which according to her have been a tremendous source of support and guidance.
“Through these trainings, I've gained fresh insights and discovered new approaches that have changed the way I approach my child. These sessions have served as a reminder of the nuances of childhood that we, as adults, sometimes forget. They've helped me tap into my own childhood experiences, needs, and feelings, allowing me to respond to my child's needs with greater empathy and insight. Besides receiving lots of helpful information by attending various sessions, the space serves as our gathering place, where we can communicate with other Ukrainians and share our experiences, which is a big relief, ”- she noted.
Anna is also an active member of World Vision Women’s Club which organises thematic sessions on entrepreneurship, culture and norms and other topics that help Ukrainian women become self-sustained in a foreign country. Anna like other women is motivated to enhance her skills and learn the Georgian language. She is an Engineering Technician by profession and in Ukraine she worked at the post office. Hence, now she is looking for opportunities to realise herself and support her family in a new country.
“Since now we live away from home and we don’t know how long we are going to stay here, we need to embrace living in a new country and immerse ourselves in the local culture. Now my husband and I are competing, on who will learn the Georgian language faster. The fact that he is away for half a year gives us both ample time to dedicate ourselves to learning. However, we can’t plan things ahead now because we don’t know what tomorrow will bring, we learned to live in the present and be thankful for what we have today,” she concluded.
Upon ending the story of her journey, Anna recommends her counterparts in similar situations not hesitate to ask for help.
“I'm incredibly grateful to World Vision Georgia for their timely and invaluable assistance. Looking back, I wish I had reached out to them sooner. Their support came just when I needed it most and alleviated the burden on my shoulders,” - Anna.
Anna's story serves as a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the capacity to overcome all obstacles in life. It's a story of hope, perseverance, and the ability to find solace and happiness even in the face of challenging circumstances.
World Vision provides continued support to Ukrainian citizens living in Georgia within its Ukraine Crisis Response Programme with the financial support of Aktion Deutschland Hilft (ADH) and UNHCR in cooperation with local as well as international actors. As of the present, the financial and cash assistance provided to the beneficiaries amounts to 9950 units. More than 1700 individuals including children have benefited from Psycho-Social Support sessions while educational resources and nonformal courses offered by World Vision Georgia have covered more than 1000 children and adults. In total, the programme has supported 24250 Ukrainians in the country through diverse services and assistance.
Story and photos by Lika Chigladze, World Vision Georgia Communications Officer