As Ukraine braces for another harsh winter, food insecurity is surging—especially in frontline areas where conflict, inflation and energy poverty collide. CWS is committed to walking alongside vulnerable communities, ensuring access to food and dignity in the face of growing hardship. A Perfect Storm: Conflict, Inflation and Cold In Ukraine’s frontline oblasts, the convergence of war, economic instability and seasonal hardship is …
Stories of Change
Top and Bottom: Ekaterina receives services and support through CWS local partner Culture of Democracy
Through War and Time: The Enduring Spirits of Ekaterina and Sofia
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, CWS has expanded its support to reach some of the country’s most vulnerable populations. Through the Caring Hearts project, we’re partnering with local organizations to provide essential aid and emotional support to older adults living in remote villages of Odesa Oblast.
In the quiet corners of Ukraine’s Odesa Oblast region live two extraordinary women—Ekaterina Borisovna Zheltova and Sofia Fedorovna Kiseolar—each over 100 years old, and each a living testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Both have endured famine, war, occupation and loss, yet continue to face life with strength and dignity.
A Century of Strength: Ekaterina’s Story
When she was only eight years old, Ekaterina survived the Holodomor, a man-made famine engineered by the Soviet government of Joseph Stalin, during 1932-1933. Unfortunately, she faced more hard years ahead when she was only 18 years old and the start of World War II broke out. Ekaterina was forced to grow up too quickly, helping her parents from an early age survive.
After World War II ended, Ekaterina married, living with her husband in Germany for several years. They eventually moved to Ukraine before finally ending up in Balta, a city in Odesa Oblast, and her family began to integrate into their new home as her husband joined the military reserve and she found work in a garment factory. Soon after, the young couple welcomed a son and daughter to the family.
“Now I dream that the war will end,” Ekaterina shared with us. From her small pension, she supports the Ukrainian military, contributing funds that go towards food supplies for those serving in the war.
Sofia’s Legacy of Endurance
Sofia, who turned 100 years old this year, is a living history. When she was only 15 years old, World War II began. Having lived through Nazi occupation and Soviet power, Sofia understands war and famine all too well. Now, she is forced to live through a new war.
Despite the many challenges she’s faced, Sofia always remained strong. She raised three sons, the youngest of whom, 70-year-old Anatoly, today takes care of his mother. Sofia worked in a hospital for many years and, after retirement, worked as a cook for another two decades.
Today, Sofia warmly received our team and admitted that she has been a little weak lately. But she does not complain about life—she only remembers what he experienced with the wisdom of a person who has seen a whole century of history.
Through the Caring Hearts project, women like Ekaterina and Sofia are receiving more than just material support—they are receiving the dignity of being seen, heard and cared for. The project provides food, hygiene supplies, medical assistance and psychosocial support to older adults in some of the most remote and underserved areas of Odesa Oblast.
These women—and many others like them—serve as living reminders of resilience in the face of hardship. Their stories inspire hope and underscore the importance of standing with those who have already sacrificed so much.
The “Caring Hearts” project is implemented by our local partner in Ukraine, Culture of Democracy, with support from Church World Service and technical assistance from the Regional Development Agency of the Odesa Region and Kuyalnytskyi Village Amalgamated Territorial Community. We are also grateful for our valued partners, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and Church of the Brethren, for their support of this work. To learn more about our Ukraine response, click here.
Stories of Change
Irina shops for groceries with support from the food vouchers she received through Diaconia
Warmth, Comfort and Hope: How Winterization Support Helped Irina’s Family Through Uncertainty
When war forced Irina to flee Ukraine with her two grandchildren, she became their sole caregiver in a new country, carrying the weight of both survival and hope. Thanks to the CWS winterization project, Irina’s family found comfort, support and a reason to believe in brighter days ahead.
A Grandmother’s Brave Decision
Before war broke out in Ukraine, 58-year-old Irina enjoyed a simple but peaceful life. She worked in a small local clothing boutique and enjoyed living with her son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren, who filled her life with warm laughter and happy memories. Then, in an instant, everything changed.
After two months of bombings, fear gripped the family. Their home in Odesa no longer felt safe, and the constant uncertainty began taking a physical and emotional toll on Irina’s two grandchildren, who began having panic attacks and could no longer sleep through the night.
Irina realized she had an impossible choice to make. Heartbroken, she took her grandchildren and left for the neighboring country of Moldova, leaving behind her son and daughter-in-law who needed to stay behind for work.
Since they arrived in Moldova, Irina has been playing multiple roles as both grandparent and parent. She found an apartment to rent in Balti, and the children have started school and begun to settle into their new community. But life away from home is not easy.
Rent and medical treatments for her grandson, who lives with a disability, are expensive. Irina hopes to find work, but as the sole full-time caregiver, finding employment is difficult, and without a stable source of income, it can be difficult to make ends meet.
Winter Support and Hope for Tomorrow
The CWS winterization project, in partnership with local organization Diaconia, provided a lifeline for Irina, who received food vouchers and critical hygiene supplies. With this support, she was also able to save some extra money to afford her grandson’s medications.
“Thanks to the food we bought in December, we enjoyed the holidays to the fullest and had a diversified meal on New Year’s Eve and Christmas,” Irina shared. Though the family is now financially stable, homesickness still weighs on them every day. “We are comfortable in Moldova, but we pray that we can return home as soon as possible, without fear.”
Until the day Irina and her grandchildren can return home and reunite with the rest of their family in safety, they continue to push forward and remain hopeful for all that the future holds.
This story is possible thanks to CWS’s membership in ACT Alliance, a global coalition of churches and agencies engaged in development, humanitarian assistance and advocacy. It is also supported by the generosity of UMCOR. You can learn more and support CWS’ work with Ukrainian refugees in Moldova here.
Stories of Change
Top and Bottom: Olena visiting CWS local partner Positive Women Odesa
From Despair to Hope: Olena’s Journey Through War, Illness and Recovery
When the war in Ukraine upended Olena’s life—costing her a job, threatening her home and worsening her health—she found hope through the CWS-supported “Support for Women and Children During the War in Ukraine” project. With legal, medical and emotional support from our local partner, Positive Women Odesa, Olena regained stability and began building a brighter future.
A Life Turned Upside Down by War
Olena has always been a strong and independent woman. She had a beloved job, a cozy apartment and a circle of loyal friends. However, unforeseen circumstances related to the war in her home country of Ukraine led to the loss of her job, serious health issues and the threat of losing her home, which required urgent legal assistance.
Facing multiple challenges at once, Olena found herself unsure how to move forward. Then, one day while scrolling through social media, she learned about the CWS-supported “Support for Women and Children During the War in Ukraine” project, which provides psychosocial support and legal assistance, along with basic needs assistance like food, medications and other essential supplies for women in Odesa.
Filled with hope, Olena visited the office of Positive Women Odesa, our local partner in Ukraine, and joined the project. This led her to tackle the most urgent challenge: her housing issue.
Community, Care and a New Beginning
“I lost my job, I didn’t have enough money to pay for utilities, I was in complete despair, and it seemed like I was trapped in a vicious circle,” Olena shared. At the time, she was at risk of becoming unhoused, but with support from a lawyer, her living situation stabilized.
Olena had also been living with an illness for several years and, after informing her case manager that she was in need of medication, she was invited to an informational meeting with a doctor, where she could ask questions and get the necessary information about her condition. The information empowered her, leading her to overcome her fears and resume her treatment, now understanding the importance of taking her medication on time.
Along with other women participating in the project, Olena also received supermarket and pharmacy vouchers, which helped cover the costs of essential food and medications, reducing her monthly expenses and setting her up for a better financial future.
Today, Olena has made new friends and a community of supportive women who have lived through similar experiences, their stories an example of how support can restore a person’s ability to build a healthier, better future for themselves.
We are grateful for our valued partners, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and Church of the Brethren, for their support of this work.
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.
Caring Hearts, Enduring Spirits: Stories of Strength from Ukraine
June 12, 2025
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, CWS has expanded its support to reach some of the country’s most vulnerable populations. Through the Caring Hearts project, we’re partnering with local organizations to provide essential aid and emotional support to older adults living in remote villages of Odesa Oblast. On February 24, 2022, the world watched in horror as Russia …
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.
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 …
Stories of Change
Top and Bottom: Ahmed in Belgrade, Serbia
Beyond All Limits: Ahmed’s Journey from Baghdad to Belgrade
After arriving in Serbia as a teenager from Iraq, Ahmed has spent over a decade building a life in Belgrade—overcoming language barriers, legal hurdles and housing challenges with determination and grace. Now on the path to Serbian citizenship and pursuing his dream of becoming a pilot, Ahmed’s story reflects resilience, belonging and the quiet hope of starting anew.
From Baghdad to Belgrade: Finding Home and Identity
Ahmed’s journey in Serbia began in 2014, when he arrived in the southern city of Nis with his father, who had come to pursue postgraduate studies, and his two brothers and two sisters. Just sixteen at the time, Ahmed left behind the streets of Baghdad for a life in the Balkans, stepping into an unfamiliar world.
When asked whether he’s faced particularly hard moments since arriving, he quietly points to the early language barrier as the biggest hurdle. Over time, he overcame it thanks to his father, who supported him through long evenings of learning, and to his first girlfriend in Serbia. When they met, she didn’t speak English, and he didn’t speak Serbian, so they taught each other. Today, most people wouldn’t guess he wasn’t born here. “You know that feeling when you live abroad, and you just can’t fully get the jokes or slang and something’s always missing?” he says. “Well, I get the jokes. I grew up here. Belgrade is my city.”
As things changed back home in Iraq, so did their lives in Serbia. By 2017, the worsening security situation forced Ahmed’s father to seek international protection for the entire family. In early 2018, they were granted subsidiary protection, a status that had to be renewed every year. It offered safety, but limited their freedom of movement. Eventually, his family moved to Türkiye. Ahmed stayed behind, navigating adulthood alone in a new country, eventually making his way to Belgrade.
One of the harshest restrictions he’s faced was not being able to travel. Subsidiary protection doesn’t come with a passport and Ahmed has carried the quiet weight of that limitation for years. “A colleague said to me, ‘Let’s go to the seaside, it would be so great!’ And I told her, ‘I’ve never seen the sea. I’ve never been to a beach. I’d love to go, but I can’t.’” Only in late 2024 did things begin to shift. When the law changed, Ahmed finally received permanent residency, and with it, the chance to apply for Serbian citizenship.
Despite years of uncertainty, Ahmed has never let restrictions dim his spirit. He speaks of Belgrade with the warmth of someone who’s truly grown roots. “Belgrade is Belgrade, there’s no city like it. Every day something’s happening. People are out in the streets, partying, living. Even if you don’t have money, you can feel the energy. This city is alive. It has a soul.” Ask him where he’d take friends visiting from Iraq and he has a list ready: Kalemegdan at sunset, the riverfront at Dorcol, quiet walks through Zvezdara forest, the charm of Zemun. His favorite café. A park bench in Dedinje. Places where the city speaks softly.
New Wings: A Dream to Fly and a Life Rebuilt with Support
Today, Ahmed works at the local airport, preparing meals for Arabic-speaking travelers. He sees comfort in the familiar spices and sees kinship between Serbian and Arabic cuisine. He swears by sarma, proja and cevapi (kebabs). But the airport isn’t his final destination. Ahmed is studying to become a pilot. His dream is to soar above the places he has called home—Baghdad, Belgrade and beyond and see the world from a bird’s perspective.
Recently, Ahmed found himself facing another challenge. He had to leave the apartment he had lived in for years with very little notice and nowhere to go. Thanks to CWS and our partners at the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights, he received a temporary housing accommodation for a month—just enough time to catch his breath and figure out his next steps. This short-term housing solution, part of a broader effort to support refugees and asylum seekers at critical moments of transition, has helped many like Ahmed avoid slipping into homelessness while they work toward more stable, long-term solutions.
Nowadays, he continues forward with quiet determination and open-hearted hope. He’s not sure where life will take him and he’s okay with that. “I’m not afraid,” he says. “I’ll try whatever comes. Anything’s possible.”
CWS is thankful for the generosity of Airbnb.org, whose support has allowed individuals like Ahmed to receive temporary housing as they establish their new and permanent homes. Learn more about our ongoing work in Eastern Europe and how CWS provides temporary housing support by visiting our website.
Stories of Change
Top: Adamou being accompanied to his apartment Bottom: Adamou in front of his na
Adamou’s Journey: From the Borderlands of Niger to New Beginnings in Serbia
After fleeing violence in Niger, Adamou found safety and hope in Serbia with support from CWS and the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights. Now rebuilding his life with resilience and optimism, he continues to pursue his dreams while inspiring others with his kindness.
From Tragedy to Triumph: Adamou’s Journey to Safety
Adamou once led a carefree life in a small town near the borders of Mali and Burkina Faso. A spirited young boy from Niger, he always preferred chasing footballs to flipping through textbooks and could almost always be found on the field. But in 2018, the calm began to fray. The rising tide of violence in the region crept steadily toward his community, until in May 2020, it struck with full force.
While Adamou was away at a football tournament, an armed group attacked his hometown. Over 50 civilians were killed in the onslaught, including members of his own family. He was still just a boy when his mother urged him to flee, to survive, to start again.
That journey led him to Serbia.
A New Chapter in Serbia: Support and Shelter
Here, Adamou found safety at the House of Rescue, a shelter for unaccompanied and separated refugee and migrant children. With CWS partner, the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights, by his side as his legal representative, he gained asylum in the spring of 2022. It marked more than just legal status; it marked the beginning of healing, hope and possibility.
Football remained his anchor. He played with local clubs and never missed a match by his beloved Real Madrid or Chelsea. But off the field, Adamou was quietly building a new life, one step at a time. Today, he works as a Data Entry Clerk at an IT company. With his tall frame and striking presence, friends often tease him about a future in modeling. He laughs it off but doesn’t entirely rule it out.
Life threw Adamou another curveball in the fall of 2024, when he had to leave his apartment on short notice. With time running out and nowhere to go, the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights and CWS quickly stepped in to offer temporary shelter—a swift support that makes a world of difference when someone is suddenly left without a roof over their head or needs emergency accommodation.
Since launching this support in September 2024, CWS has provided temporary housing to 14 individuals, all foreign nationals living in Serbia. Some were refugees from Ukraine, and others had survived dangerous migration journeys or faced labor exploitation. For Adamou, the housing support was more than just a bed; it offered a safe pause, a chance to breathe and the space to gather strength for whatever came next.
Despite all he’s faced—the loss, the upheaval and the uncertainty—Adamou remains resilient, openhearted and quietly determined. He has a way of forming connections wherever he goes, and people are drawn to his kindness and optimism. When asked about the future, he simply smiles and says, “I’m patient. I know what I want, and I’ll get there.”
CWS is thankful for the generosity of Airbnb.org, whose support has allowed individuals like Adamou to receive temporary housing as they establish their new and permanent homes. Learn more about our ongoing work in Eastern Europe and how CWS provides temporary housing support by visiting our website. Donate here to continue to help refugees like Adamou.
Breaking the Cycle: Supporting Ukrainian Roma Communities
April 4, 2025
CWS is committed to breaking the cycle of discrimination and exclusion faced by Roma communities, particularly in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which displaced nearly 100,000 Roma Ukrainians. Through partnerships with organizations like the Roma National Center in Moldova, CWS provides essential aid to help Roma refugees and host communities achieve stability and inclusion. For centuries, the Roma …