After fleeing war in Ukraine, Esenia found safety, educational support and a path toward stability through the CWS partner-led Anastasis Community Center in Moldova. These services are made possible through support from Episcopal Relief & Development (ERD).
Ukrainian Refugee Children Find Safety and Support in Moldova
When Esenia first arrived in Bălți, Moldova, she carried only a backpack, her mother’s hand and a fear that was difficult to put into words. Having fled the war in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, she was forced to leave behind her home, friends, school and the sense of safety that, for a child, means everything.
Struggling with the trauma of conflict and displacement, Esenia withdrew into herself. Although she lived in a refugee dormitory, she avoided other children, spoke very little and rarely left her room. The world felt unsafe, and silence became the only form of protection she knew.
Everything began to change when a neighbor encouraged Esenia and her mother to participate in a summer activity organized by the CWS partner-led Anastasis Community Center. Surrounded by children laughing and playing, Esenia experienced a small but significant shift. For the first time since arriving in Moldova, she began to feel comfortable enough to engage with others.
How Anastasis Community Center Helps Children Heal from War
The next day, Esenia surprised herself by asking her mother to visit the Center again. Over time, she gained confidence and eventually felt comfortable staying there on her own. Specialists at the Center worked patiently with Esenia, offering individualized support tailored to her pace and emotional needs.
Her integration into the group happened gradually and without pressure. Through games, cooking activities and time spent outdoors, Esenia began building connections with other children. She also received educational support, homework assistance and help navigating distance learning from the Anastasis team.
With each day spent at the Center, Esenia grew more confident. Her shyness slowly gave way to curiosity, initiative and a desire to be part of a community.
“At first, I was afraid to talk to other children,” Esenia shared. “Here, I felt that no one was rushing me and that I could be myself. Anastasis Center is the place where I learned how to make friends and trust myself.”
For Esenia’s mother, her daughter’s transformation has been a source of immense joy. “The psychological support and care we found at Anastasis Center helped Esenia enormously. Even without the war, she would have needed a place like this, somewhere that could help her overcome her shyness and grow.”
Through consistent care and encouragement, Esenia developed the self-confidence and coping skills she needed to feel safe in her new surroundings.
From Distance Learning to School Integration in Moldova
Last year, Esenia took another important step forward by enrolling in a local school rather than continuing the distance learning she had relied on since arriving in Moldova in 2022. Thanks to the emotional support she received through Anastasis, she adapted successfully, learning to navigate her emotions, fears and frustrations with greater confidence.
Today, Esenia continues to participate in the Center’s activities, including cooking clubs, volunteer opportunities, trainings and themed events. She has taken meaningful steps toward rebuilding her life and rediscovering the joy of childhood.
Esenia’s story demonstrates the impact that safe, supportive spaces can have on children affected by conflict and displacement. Through empathy, professional care and consistent encouragement, the Anastasis Community Center helps children regain their confidence, restore a sense of safety and envision a brighter future.
These services are made possible through support from Episcopal Relief & Development (ERD).
For nearly 80 years, CWS has walked alongside people uprooted by conflict, disaster and poverty, helping families rebuild their lives through just and sustainable responses to displacement and crisis. In Ukraine and neighboring Moldova, that legacy continues through partnerships that provide education, psychosocial support, livelihoods assistance and basic needs for refugees and host communities.
Learn more about CWS’s Ukraine response and how you can stand with families like Esenia’s.