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.

Take Action: Urge Your Members of Congress to Reject Reconciliation Bill that Slashes Human Needs Programs to Fund Mass Detention and Deportation


May 20, 2025

Congress is currently in the midst of debating a budget reconciliation bill that seeks to divert massive funds to immigrant detention, deportation, and border militarization and strip access to programs that connect immigrant and U.S.-born families, children, and communities to basic resources. As of May 19, House Republicans are negotiating and “marking up” the package, which they hope to move …

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. 

Dignity in Every Pack: Communities Unite to End Period Poverty


May 13, 2025

Across the United States, communities are stepping up to combat period poverty by assembling CWS Period Packs and providing essential hygiene items to those in need. From disaster relief to youth activism, these efforts are restoring dignity and meeting a critical yet often overlooked need. Everyone has the right to access safe, sanitary hygiene products, but for many people around …

As First Group of Afrikaners Prepares to Travel to the United States, CWS Urges Administration to Comply with Court Order to Resettle All Eligible Refugees   


May 9, 2025

As First Group of Afrikaners Prepares to Travel to the United States, CWS Urges Administration to Comply with Court Order to Resettle All Eligible Refugees    New York City– CWS today expressed deep concern over news that the Trump Administration will soon admit Afrikaners and other racial minorities from South Africa to the United States as refugees, while simultaneously delaying …

Conversation Guide: How to Talk to Your Family About Refugees


May 8, 2025

  Like us, you know that refugees are ordinary people who have been forced to leave their homes behind in search of safety. But with misinformation on the rise, how can you share the facts with your family, friends and loved ones? Here is a conversation guide to answer any questions your community may have about refugees and other newcomers. …

TAKE ACTION: This World Refugee Day, Urge Congress to Defend Refuge


World Refugee Day—held annually on June 20th—is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the resilience and courage of those fleeing violence and persecution globally. It serves as a call to action for governments and communities to strengthen their efforts in providing safe haven, resources, and opportunities for refugees and other displaced people to rebuild their lives. Despite multiple court orders, …

World Refugee Day: Books and Film Highlighting the Refugee Experience


This World Refugee Day, we honor the courage, resilience and humanity of people forced to flee their homes by uplifting the stories that reflect their lived experiences. From memoirs to films, these powerful works offer intimate, eye-opening perspectives on displacement, identity and the search for safety. Books Highlighting the Refugee Experience: Those We Throw Away Are Diamonds by Mondiant Dogon …

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.