World Vision empowers Ukrainian refugees in Moldova through livelihood initiatives
Svitlana*, 34, was born in Lviv, Ukraine, and raised by her grandparents after her mother left when she was just 9 months old. Her grandmother, who suffered from an illness, could not work, and her grandfather, a train conductor, was the sole provider. When Svitlana was 6, her grandfather passed away.
At 13, Svitlana started working – first in a market, then in a café. By 15, she married in an attempt to escape poverty and provide for her grandmother. At 19, she had a daughter, Valeriia*. However, the marriage was ruined by violence. When her husband became abusive, Svitlana left with her young daughter, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and returned to her grandparents’ home.
Svitlana worked triple shifts to support her daughter and care for her sick father. When war broke out in 2022, Svitlana fled with her daughter to Poland. After a short stay there, they moved to Chisinau, Moldova, where they found refuge in a center before settling in a small apartment.
She worked multiple jobs, from babysitting to cleaning, just to make ends meet.
In February 2024, Svitlana applied for the World Vision social care course, a programme designed to support refugees. She was invited to an interview and later completed the course. She is also part of World Vision’s Cash for Internship programme, funded by the Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC). She works in a center for people with disabilities in Chisinau, where she began caring for 89-year-old Nikolay, who had been confined to a wheelchair for years.
This experience has changed my life. I’ve learned so much – both about care and about myself. I am thankful for everything World Vision has done for us.
At first, Nikolay resisted Svitlana’s care, but after a week, something changed. “He started to smile,” she recalls. “I spent time with him, took him for walks, and we talked. It was like a transformation.”
“My life has transformed since joining the internship programme,” says Svitlana. She now works alongside 28 other people, mostly Ukrainians, providing care for the elderly and disabled. Each worker receives US$20 an hour, with a maximum of 20 hours per month, allowing Svitlana to support herself and Valeriia.
“I want to go home, but I can’t. I can't put my daughter in danger with the ongoing attacks and air raids," Svitlana says, her voice soft.
She is grateful for the opportunity the Cash for Internship programme has given her. “This experience has changed my life,” she says. “I’ve learned so much – both about care and about myself. I am thankful for everything World Vision has done for us.”
Through World Vision’s Ukraine Crisis Response programmes, over 24,000 people affected by the war underwent professional training.
* Names were changed to protect the identity of the family.
Story by Ana Macovenco, World Vision Moldova Operations I Cover photo by Laurentia Jora, Advocacy & Communications Manager