Education for 60 Ukrainian Refugee Children

Four years have passed since the war in Ukraine forever changed the lives of millions of people. Four years of fear. Four years of longing. Four years of uncertainty. And yet… four years in which we, together with you, chose to stand beside our neighbors who are going through unimaginable hardship.

From the very first days of the war, we were there for the families who arrived in Romania with little or no luggage… but with hearts full of pain. Through our refugee programs, we did not offer only aid—we tried to rebuild lives. To restore trust. To reignite hope. To bring joy back again.

13,000 Lives Touched by Compassion

We remember the first days. Over 10,000 refugees a day passing through our city. Big-hearted Romanians helping in any way they could. Train stations and shelters overflowing. Mothers holding their traumatized children tight in their arms. People crossing the border with a single bag—and an immense weight on their souls. That was the moment we understood we could not stand aside. And we chose to be there.

In the first months, we focused on urgent solutions: transportation, accommodation, and food. But we quickly faced a painful truth: the war would not end soon, and Eastern Romania would remain the closest shelter for those searching for safety. So we built a dedicated team of Romanians and Ukrainians (community workers, interpreters, instructors, educators, therapists) and developed the strongest and most professional network of services for Ukrainian refugees in Galati and Braila counties.

These services have operated without interruption throughout all these years. We adapted to needs, continuously improved, and we are still supporting refugees—even when other services were drastically reduced and funding stopped.

According to our data, we have supported over 13,000 refugees so far—children, elderly people, persons with disabilities, single women, and vulnerable families. Many received multiple services. More than 500 services provided by us each month meant, for many, the difference between holding on and giving up.

All of this was possible thanks to tremendous work and ongoing collaboration with other organizations, local institutions, and diverse donors who stepped in to help. We want to take this opportunity to thank you all!

How We Stood Beside Them

Over these 4 years… we have been beside thousands of Ukrainian refugees.
We have seen children learn a new language from zero, mothers manage to stay strong and find a job here, people work through the traumas of war, and elderly men and women who lost their homes and their peace—but not their dignity.

We provided hundreds of services, month after month. But more than that—we offered presence. Because sometimes, the greatest help is simply not being alone in the hardest moments.

We have provided—and continue to provide:

– Educational Programs for children – daily programs for preschoolers, 2 After-school programs for children attending Romanian schools in Galati and Braila, donations of backpacks, school supplies and study equipment. Romanian language courses – for both children and adults, for integration and independence. Support for enrollment in schools and kindergartens. Translation of school documents.

– Hot meals and food packages – for children and families facing material hardship

– Various types of material and financial assistance – clothing, footwear, hygiene products, blankets, mattresses and other items for accommodation, vouchers for accommodation or food, support for purchasing medicines or for emergency situations

– Interpretation and administrative support services to ease integration and access to services such as: obtaining a residence permit, disability certificate, rental contract, applications for housing support, child allowances, social assistance, unemployment benefits, etc.

– Support in accessing medical services – appointments with doctors and specialists, accompaniment and interpretation, registration with a family doctor, referrals/registration for specialties for those with chronic illnesses/cancer, support to purchase medicines, prosthetics and medical equipment

– Therapies and emotional support – we provided therapeutic services for refugee children with various disabilities, as well as counseling and psychological support for adults

– Leisure and integration activities – including play activities, outings, trips, celebrations of important events (Children’s Day, Refugee Day, Easter, Christmas, children’s birthdays), creative and engaging activities, many together with children or people from the host community, camps, and participation in cultural activities in the community. We included in these activities Ukrainian children, pensioners, people with disabilities or chronic illnesses, single women, and other vulnerable individuals. These activities supported the prevention of isolation, practicing Romanian, understanding the culture, and integration.

– Accommodation for 18 refugees – in a furnished and fully equipped foundation apartment, we hosted vulnerable refugee families free of charge throughout this entire period (a family of pensioners—one with cancer—and a single mother with 7 children)

– Jobs – our foundation supported over 20 mothers, single women, and elderly refugees by offering them jobs within our centers. Currently, 12 refugees are still working alongside us.

– Humanitarian convoys – our organization organized the procurement of goods and sent 8 humanitarian transports to war-affected areas in Ukraine (Odessa, Mykolaiv, Kherson, Kyiv), with food, hygiene products, medicines, and medical equipment for 5 clinics and hospitals. Our staff also participated in preparing, transporting, and sending over 50 additional humanitarian transports organized by other partners, to various areas in eastern Ukraine.

We Are Still Beside Them

Over these 4 years, we have also seen compassion grow tired. In a time marked by rapidly rising prices, instability, conflicts, and economic hardship in many parts of the world, we watched attitudes change, people become less patient, support for refugees decline, services close, and most funding come to an end.

We also saw some refugees choose to return home—not because it is safe, but because they could no longer survive here… They return to cold, to darkness, to the threatening sound of sirens. For them, the war is not distant news. It is daily life.

And yet, a few thousand have remained—still here, close to the border. Many come from occupied areas or places completely destroyed by bombardments and have nowhere to return to.

Just like in the first days of the war, refugees still need us. And Inima de Copil is still beside them.
We cannot stop the war. But we can choose not to be indifferent. Because every small gesture matters, and every day brings one more step toward hope and stability.

“We Are Not Alone.” – Testimonials That Say It All

“I was helped so much by the foundation—with everything we needed for accommodation, food, and things for the children. Now my children can continue learning here at the center. I am so grateful for all the care and love you show us!”
Liudmila

“I am very grateful to the Inima de Copil center! My children have the opportunity to socialize, learn new things, and take part in interesting activities. The center staff are very kind and empathetic! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the help with food, hygiene products, and clothes—it is priceless! Far from our homes, we feel support and know that we are not alone. Thank you to the sponsors as well!!!”
Hozalova Iryna

“The first time I learned about the refugee center was in April 2023, when my grandson and I saw a group of happy children running and laughing at the playground, speaking our native language. From that day, the center became our second home. We were pleasantly surprised to see ongoing improvements: new furniture appeared, equipment, toys, games, and so much more… The one thing that never changed was the warm, caring, and deeply kind attitude of the staff toward all children and adults. Thank you from the heart for your kindness and for all the help the center provides to everyone who walks through its doors.”
Halchevska Valentina

“Thank you so much to the ‘Inima de Copil’ center for simply being in our lives, for making every day we live more amazing, brighter, and calmer! The war caught us off guard. We were terrified and had to leave our homes in a hurry. People like you are rare, and it is a great blessing to have such kind, understanding, and sensitive people who care about the problems of others. Thank you for supporting me in those difficult moments when I literally felt I could not breathe because of emotions and worries—but with you, I managed to overcome them and move forward! You taught us to see the good even where it seems there can be none.”
Olga Yonash

“The ‘Inima de Copil’ team became a second family for me. Work there is not just projects, tasks, and deadlines. It is the people with whom you share joys and difficulties, learn from, grow with, and laugh until you cry. Special gratitude to the entire Inima de Copil organization for a culture where people are valued, for an atmosphere where you want to work, and for opportunities that help you grow. It was more than just a job—it was an important stage in my life.”
Mira Batsueva

“I am extremely grateful for this organization, which gives us enormous support. My child and I are happy to be here, where different forms of assistance are offered: day care, humanitarian aid, learning Romanian. I would also like to thank you because my child attends the extended-hours kindergarten, which includes outdoor play, meals, and sleep. My child has become more communicative and happier. Now I have a job and can dedicate more time to my own development: working and learning Romanian. Thank you for your help—it is very important to us.”
Osypova Anna

“My husband felt very unwell. He had been out of his medication for a month. We didn’t know the language; we didn’t know where to go for help. We had to call an ambulance and could not wait until morning. Someone gave us the phone number of an interpreter from the foundation. We didn’t know if she would answer at that hour. But she answered—she called the ambulance and helped us reach the hospital even though it was night. She stayed with us for hours, translating and supporting us until the doctors finished the tests and stabilized him. He had a stroke. Since then, we have constantly needed doctor visits, tests, appointments, and Nina is always beside us. We are deeply grateful for everything! Thanks to you, we are still alive.”
D. Valentyna

“I want to thank your center and you girls from the bottom of my heart for your work!!! Thank you for the humanitarian help provided: clothes, equipment, medicines, food; for the support in preparing children for school, and for the medical services. My family and I are very grateful to you and to your sponsors!”
Zhanna Brokhova

“Two of my children, Egor and Andrey Kolchevsky, attend the preschool program. The class is wonderful, with kind and responsive educators, and excellent food. I really like the educator’s attitude toward the children, the way the lessons are conducted, the knowledge the children receive, the active games, and the joyful activities. We are grateful for the opportunity to be part of the junior group and for everything that is being done for our children.”
Uliana Kolchevska

These testimonies remind us why we keep going. For every child who rediscovers the joy of learning, for every mother who feels she is not alone, our support matters.

The war has not stopped. Neither has the need for support.

But together, we can bring warmth, safety, and hope into their lives.

Thank you for being part of this story of solidarity—and for helping us turn compassion into action.

Links:

• video kindergarten
• video afterschool