In February 2022, full-scale war broke out in Ukraine, forcing millions of Ukrainians to flee their homes. Since then, many have settled in neighbouring countries, waiting for the chance to return to a safe home.
According to the UNHCR database, Moldova, one of the neighbouring countries to Ukraine, became a new home for nearly 126,000 people.
In late 2022, four international non-governmental organisations, namely Acted, IMPACT Initiatives, People in Need, and the Norwegian Refugee Council, decided to join forces to assist Ukrainian refugees and local vulnerable communities to cope with the consequences of the war in Ukraine. This led to the creation of the PLACE Consortium.
As a member of the PLACE Consortium, Acted provides Cash for Rent assistance to address the urgent housing needs of refugees and vulnerable Moldovan households. This assistance, made possible through the European Union’s Humanitarian Aid, covers accommodation costs for 695 households for up to six months.
Kyiv - Chisinau
Svitlana* is not new to Chisinau. Her mother came to the city after the Chornobyl tragedy to give birth to her. Svitlana spent her early childhood in the capital of Moldova living with her grandparents. However, she spent most of her life in the capital of another country – Kyiv, Ukraine. There, Svitlana was caught up in the war.
Accompanied by her mother and children, she moved to the Carpathians (the mountainous region in the west of Ukraine) to join some relatives. After living there for 8 months, they started looking for another safe place to live.
Through the internet, they found out about the cash-for-rent assistance funded by the European Union Humanitarian Aid and implemented by Acted in Moldova and decided to take a train to Chisinau.
A garden in the centre of the city
Here, Svitlana and her family found a house in the city centre. Having always lived in the city, the family has never had enough land to grow food. In Chisinau, they started their garden, where they grow a variety of vegetables.
As an inheritance from the owners of the house, Svitlana inherited two dogs, which became part of the family.
This was the saving straw for us, it was perfect timing and helped us a lot. We are very grateful for this project and help.
The new beginning
Before the war escalated, she used to make handmade figurines. The war made it difficult to get the necessary materials and Svitlana had to find a new business.
Now, Svitlana runs a few shops on an international online marketplace. She has also taken up pattern making and is very happy to have found this new hobby.
Her children have recently started attending the local school where they receive Ukrainian education. Before that, they attended online learning. The mother is very happy that her children have the chance to study their mother tongue. Svitlana and her family plan to return to Kyiv when the war is over.
Acted was able to aid thousands of Ukrainians facing financial challenges related to housing, thanks to the financial support provided by the European Union. This support enabled individuals to adapt to their new circumstances in Ukraine and to make informed decisions about their future plans.
*Her name has been changed to protect her identity.