This youth center in Moldova became a safe refuge for Ukrainian children who fled from the war
Grătiesti is a small village in Moldova that is also home to the Youth Educational Centre established in 2005. This center is not just a place for learning but also where children discover their talents like drawing, handicraft making, embroidery, knitting, or honing their skills in informatics and speaking in English.
When the war in erupted, this center was transformed into a lifeline for Ukrainian children and families. The volunteers were mobilized to gather donations from Moldovans to support the needs of the refugees.
World Vision’s partner Step by Step established activities in the center, now attended by 20 children. Among them are sisters Polina, 14, and Kateryna, 11 originally from Donetsk Oblast in Ukraine.
"We heard the rumors that war had begun, but we thought they were just that - rumors," Polina recalls. In April 2022, after a missile hit a nearby college, their 42-year-old mother Nataliia made the hardest decision of her life.
They left their hometown and sought refuge in Dnipro, leaving behind everything they have. They began a new chapter of their life filled with uncertainty but also with hope. Their journey took them to Moldova, seeking for a peaceful life.
"I miss my friends and grandparents so much," Polina shares. "I have started to feel at home here, but my heart remains in Kramatorsk." The project, supported by the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), gave the children a sense of purpose and normality.
The support from Step by Step and World Vision allowed us to reach more children, to diversify and improve our activities.
Nataliia works two days a week as a handicraft teacher, offering more than just skills but also healing for fellow refugees. The activity, they said, helps stitch together pieces of their broken hearts.
Polina likes drawing and she uses bright colors to paint over the pain in her heart. She dreams of opening a restaurant. But her greatest wish is simple and profound: “My dream is for the war to end.”
Kateryna, the youngest, has found her passion creating handmade jewelry. Each piece requires patience, and focus. As she creates, she also escapes from the weight of her memories of the war. She longs to see her grandparents and friends who are still in Kramatorsk.
“The support from Step by Step and World Vision allowed us to reach more children, to diversify and improve our activities,” says Maria, the center’s director. “Now, we can give even more love, and most importantly, bring smiles to the children’s faces.”
World Vision and Step by Step, through this project, also supports the children’s theatre “Licurici” in Budesti and the Grătiesti center to help restore the joy of their childhood and strengthen their bond as they learn and journey together.
Story and photos by (former) Communications Officer Pavel Iorga