Stories of Change

Diana and her children receive essential winter supplies, including clothing and footwear

Carrying Hope Across Borders: Diana’s Story of Strength, Survival and New Beginnings

When war forced Diana and her family to flee their home in Ukraine, they arrived in Moldova with little but hope for a safe future. Thanks to the CWS winterization project and the resilience of a mother’s love, they’re building a new life—one step and season at a time. 

A Family Uprooted by War 

When war broke out in Ukraine, the peace that thousands of families had once lived in became shattered. For Diana and her two children, the days became marked with the sound of sirens and feelings of constant fear for their lives. 

On August 31, 2023, Diana made the difficult decision to leave her small village with her children and, together with her mother, fled to Chisinau in search of a safer place to live. Once they arrived, the two women had to start from scratch, figuring out how to build a new home for themselves and their family. 

In Chisinau, Diana rents a small apartment and works as a cleaner to support her family, but the income she makes from her new job makes it difficult to cover their daily needs. With her two young children still in school, Diana’s mother helps with caregiving while Diana works, each of them lending a hand to build a stable life as best they can. 

As seasons change, families like Diana’s who have been forced from their homes are forced to face a new challenge: the bitter winter cold. 

Hope and Warmth for the Winter Ahead 

The CWS winterization project, in partnership with local organization Diaconia, provided a ray of hope for Diana and her family, who were able to receive essential supplies like clothing and footwear, along with other much-needed items. Now, they are better equipped to stay healthy and warm as temperatures drop. 

“This help is vital for us. It is very important,” shared Diana. “You know that you can rely on someone and most importantly that you are not alone on this journey.” 

Despite the challenges her family has faced, Diana remains hopeful. She dreams of the day when the war will be over, and she and her family will be able to return home, tend to their garden and taste the cherries in their backyard. 

“Among strangers it’s hard. However, I am happy to have my children and my mom close by. It’s hard, but I know I’m not alone on this journey. We will be fine.” 

Although the future is still uncertain, Diana and her family are a testament to the strength in resiliency and the power in never losing hope for a better tomorrow. 

This story is possible thanks to CWS’ membership in ACT Alliance, a global coalition of churches and agencies engaged in development, humanitarian assistance and advocacy. You can learn more and support CWS’ work with Ukrainian refugees in Moldova here. 

Weaving Rights and Voices: Indigenous Empowerment in Paraguay’s Lower Chaco


May 30, 2025

In Paraguay’s Lower Chaco, Indigenous communities are advancing justice and leadership through rights training and women-led gatherings—fostering a future rooted in dignity, advocacy and collective strength. Weaving Networks, Sharing Knowledge: A Gathering of Indigenous Women In Pozo Colorado, Paraguay, a powerful gathering of Indigenous women from the Enxet Sur people offered a chance to learn through shared stories, identity and …

From Floods to Futures: How One Group Helped a Community Rise Again


May 21, 2025

After severe floods devastated Kenya’s Tana Delta in 2024, CWS launched a recovery effort through the Mwanga Project, helping nearly 1,800 people rebuild their livelihoods with tools like livestock, training and agriculture support. Through that support, the Kipini Disability Fellowship emerged as a model of resilience—turning poultry and goat distributions into a sustainable, community-driven path to recovery and empowerment. In …

Stories of Change

Aimerance in her garden

From Crisis to Cultivation: Aimerance’s Journey to Hope and Empowerment

After fleeing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Aimerance Bosco found hope and stability through the Wezesha Project, transforming from a struggling mother into a thriving farmer who now nourishes her family and empowers others in her community.

From Displacement to Determination: Aimerance’s Path to Empowerment

Aimerance Bosco spends her days caring for her four children, tending to her crops and supporting a strong community of other female farmers. But life wasn’t always so peaceful—only several years ago, Aimerance was forced to flee conflict in her home in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Suddenly, her family faced an uncertain future in a new country.

Unfortunately, the challenges didn’t stop once they arrived at the Nyarugusu Refugee Camp in Tanzania, and at first, life was difficult.  Food rations were limited, forcing her family to survive on just one meal each day, and the lack of income made it nearly impossible to buy basic necessities like soap, clothing and school supplies for her children.

“We depended entirely on food aid, but it was never enough. I felt helpless because I had no way to provide for my family,” Aimerance shared.

Then, in 2024, Aimerance was invited to join CWS’s Wezesha Project (meaning “empower” in Kiswahili), where she received training in sustainable vegetable farming, group dynamics, gender equality and nutritional education to enhance her family’s diet.

From Survival to Productivity

With her newfound skills and resources, Aimerance established a kitchen garden around her home, growing spinach, amaranth, African nightshade and chaya. Within three months, her family’s diet improved, and her children became stronger and healthier.

Encouraged by her success, Aimerance expanded her vegetable production, growing enough to sell the surplus to her neighbors. The income she earned enabled her to buy basic necessities like soap, clothes and shoes for her children, which she struggled to afford before. The income also helps her to buy different varieties of food, enabling her family to eat balanced meals every day.

Through perseverance and hard work, Aimerance is now able to put food on the table and earn an income. She’s even encouraging other women in her community to participate in the project and build healthier futures for themselves and their families.

Aimerance’s Message of Gratitude and Hope

“I am forever grateful to the WEZESHA Project,” said Aimerance. “Before, I struggled to provide for my children, but today, I am a farmer and a mother who can support her family. This project has transformed my life and given me hope for the future.”

Her journey is proof that with the right support, resilience and determination, families like Aimerance’s can transform their lives and build a brighter future.

We would like to thank our partners, the Canadian Foodgrains Bank and the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund for allowing this assistance to be possible. You can learn about our programs in Tanzania here.

Maria Bahati’s Journey of Gender Transformation and Family Empowerment


May 16, 2025

Maria Bahati, a young refugee in Tanzania’s Nyarugusu Camp, transformed her family’s future through CWS’s WEZESHA Project—overcoming gender barriers, gaining farming skills, and inspiring her husband and community to embrace gender equality. Her journey highlights how empowerment and collaboration can lead to lasting change. Breaking Barriers: Maria’s First Steps Toward Empowerment Forced to flee her home at a young age, …

Stories of Change

Daria at the Anastasis Educational Center

“I Feel Safe”: How Daria Found Peace, Purpose and Community in Moldova

Daria, a courageous 14-year-old from Ukraine, was forced to leave her home and family behind as war threatened her safety and peace of mind. In Moldova, she found not only refuge but a renewed sense of purpose at the CWS partner-led Anastasis Educational Center—a place where she could learn, grow and dream again without fear. 

A Childhood Interrupted by War 

At just 14 years old, Daria already knows what it means to be strong in the face of hardship. In a world where war has shaken her sense of peace, she has not only endured but has also learned to face each challenge with courage. Born in Kramatorsk, Ukraine into a close-knit and caring family, Daria and her younger siblings had a happy and carefree childhood. However, as the military conflict escalated into a devastating war that destroyed everything in its path, the safety they once knew became increasingly difficult to maintain.  

In the fall of 2024, the situation deteriorated significantly, and the local infrastructure was severely affected, leading the family to seek a safer place for their children. “We got used to the sound of sirens and frequent power outages, but this way of living wasn’t good for me. I was always on high alert, constantly haunted by the fear that something bad might happen,” Daria recalls.  

Initially, Daria came to Bălți to visit her cousins who had settled there. “In Bălți, I discovered a whole new world,” the young girl shared enthusiastically. “Here, the power doesn’t go out, there are no sirens, no rockets flying overhead and people aren’t sad and stressed.”  

Finding peace and tranquility, she decided to stay in Bălți. While her family remained in Ukraine, caught up with work and daily responsibilities, Daria found a new home in Moldova. Her parents completed all the necessary paperwork so that she could live with her aunt, who is also originally from Ukraine.  

A New Life at the Anastasis Center  

In Bălți, Daria began attending the Anastasis Center*, a place that offered her more than just the opportunity to continue her online studies. Here, she found support, friendship and numerous opportunities for personal growth. “Anastasis is a bridge between what I had in Ukraine and what I can build today. Here, I can continue my studies, discover new things and meet new people. I also realized how much I love volunteering—it’s so important to help one another.” 

Daria quickly integrated into the Anastasis Center community, forming strong friendships with other children. She is a dreamer, passionate about animals and determined to become a veterinarian. She actively participates in all the Center’s activities, completes her schoolwork responsibly and happily helps younger children, never hesitating to play and spend time with them.  

Although she constantly misses her family, Daria looks to the future with optimism. “Here, at Anastasis and in Moldova, I have the chance to grow. I feel safe and believe I will be able to achieve my dreams with ease.”  

Daria’s story proves that even in the most difficult circumstances, the right support and environment can transform a child’s life. At Anastasis, she has found more than just a refuge—she has found an extended family and a place where she can dream again with confidence. 

*The Anastasis Educational Center is run by our local partner, Diaconia, and aims to help Ukrainian refugees heal and rebuild their lives. At the Center, program participants can receive psychological support, attend vocational classes, partake in fun activities and access computers to attend online school. 

You can learn more about the work we are doing in Moldova to support Ukrainian refugees here. 

Stories of Change

Above: Yana with a program participant Below: Gabriela delivering homemade cake at the Sărătenii Vechi Nursing Home

Little Acts, Big Hearts: How Refugees and Children Are Shaping Community Life in Telenesti

At the Diamond Day Center in Telenesti, Ukrainian refugees and local Moldovan families are coming together to create a welcoming, supportive community through small acts of kindness—from building a children’s mini-library to delivering homemade treats to elders. 

At the Diamond Day Center in Telenesti, Moldova, community isn’t just a word—it’s a way of life. From its beginning, the Center, which is supported by CWS, aimed to create a space where Ukrainian refugees and host Moldovan communities could feel part of something bigger: a family, a safe space and a thriving community where everyone belongs. 

A Book House Built with Love 

That’s how the “Community of Ukrainians” platform was born—an initiative that quickly grew into an active and compassionate group of Ukrainian refugees eager to give back to the community that welcomed them. One beautiful example of their work is the mini-library project in Telenesti’s central park. Designed especially for children, the “Book House” offers storybooks, coloring books, toys and pencils for little ones to enjoy. Families can take books home, contribute their own and share in the joy of reading together. 

Yana, a 30-year-old Ukrainian refugee and staff member at the Diamond Day Center, played a leading role in the initiative. She shared, “We do this with great love for each child who will come to read a book from here. It’s our way of showing gratitude for everything we have received here from the community. The pride we feel knowing we’re creating something meaningful is one of the most beautiful experiences. Together, we can create a better and more beautiful world around us!” 

Spreading Compassion Across Generations 

The spirit of kindness and community isn’t just for grown-ups. At the Diamond Day Center, children are learning that small acts of kindness can make a big difference. In October 2024, the children prepared handmade desserts and personalized boxes—each decorated with drawings and kind messages—for the elderly residents of the Sărătenii Vechi Nursing Home. 

Gabriela, an 11-year-old participant, shared her experience: “I was so happy to visit the nursing home. I’ll never forget Grandma Maria’s grateful look when I gave her the cake we made. She smiled and thanked me, and it made me feel really good. I want to go back, and next time, I’ll learn a beautiful poem to make them even happier.” 

These simple but powerful moments—a book shared, a homemade treat gifted, a poem learned—reflect what community is truly about. In Telenesti, refugees, children and elders are discovering together that even in times of hardship, kindness, creativity and connection can transform lives. 

You can learn more about the work we are doing in Moldova to support Ukrainian refugees here. 

A Mother’s Strength: How One Family Rebuilt Hope After Separation


May 7, 2025

After fleeing danger in their home country and enduring a painful separation, Roseline and her son Emmanuel reunited in the U.S. with support from CWS. As Emmanuel faced challenges adapting to his new community, Roseline was there to offer support and advocate for social, emotional and academic interventions with his school—helping him rediscover joy and belonging. From Separation to Safety  …

Stories of Change

Top and Bottom: Violetta

Finding Her Way Back to Joy: Violetta’s Journey Through War, Healing and Dance

After war stole her sense of safety and silenced her joy, Violetta found healing and hope through group sessions offered by the “Support for Women and Children During the War in Ukraine” project. With support from CWS and Positive Women Odesa, she’s rediscovered her voice, her confidence and her passion for dance. 

A Bright Future Interrupted 

With natural curiosity and an unquenchable thirst for life, Violetta’s days were once filled with school, friends and time to devote to her true passion: dance. Her future was bright and wide open with possibilities. 

Then, on February 24, 2022, Violetta’s world changed overnight when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Many of her friends’ families were forced to leave the country in search of safety, and the activities she loved were all put on pause. 

Violetta’s mother recalled how she tried to comfort her daughter in those initial days of the war, trying to create a sense of safety and peace. “I felt powerless,” she shared. “It was unbearable to see my child suffer.” 

In August 2024, she heard about the “Support for Women and Children during the War in Ukraine” project from a friend, who also had a child that was already participating in one of the project’s free children’s group sessions. Implemented by CWS’s local partner in Ukraine, Positive Women Odesa, the project provides psychosocial support, among other essential services, to women and children in Odesa City. 

Healing in Community 

Violetta initially kept to herself, feeling shy and confused since she had never met any of the other children. She spoke little and quietly, unsure how to participate in group activities. Then, with the support of a psychologist, social worker and the other children, Violetta began to open up and feel more comfortable and confident in her new environment. 

By the third children’s group session, Violetta was no longer just attending—she was thriving. Surrounded by new friends and fueled by renewed confidence, she fully embraced each activity with joy and boldness. In reclaiming her voice, she also reclaimed her passion, finally finding dance once more. 

Violetta’s mother can once again see the bright, curious little girl she was before the war began. “I don’t know what we would have done without you,” she shared. “You are real magicians.” 

The group sessions have become a source of stability and brightness in her life. Together, these girls are finding a community of friends to lean on, feeling empowered to use their voices and find their passions once more, forging a bright future filled with hope. 

With support from CWS, the “Support for Women and Children During the War in Ukraine” project, implemented by our local partner in Ukraine, Positive Women Odesa, provides critical services for acutely vulnerable women and children in Odesa City, including psychosocial support and legal assistance, along with basic needs assistance like food, medications and other essential supplies. The project focuses on women, including those living with HIV, older women and women in the LGBTQ+ community. To learn more about our Ukraine response, click here. 

Sewn With Hope: Elvira’s Path from Ukraine to Serbia


May 6, 2025

Forced to flee Ukraine in 2022, Elvira rebuilt her life in Serbia through creativity, community and determination—turning her sewing skills into a source of purpose, income and empowerment for herself and other refugee women. With support from CWS and partners, her family is now charting a path toward independence and stability. Stitch by Stitch: Reclaiming Purpose Through Creativity Before the …