Tetiana: “JRS Romania is about more than just events and services — there’s a special atmosphere here.“

Displacement Experience 

68-year-old Tetiana Nikolenko is originally from Mykolaiv. She is currently in Bucharest with her 69-year-old husband. They have two daughters and are grandparents to two grandchildren. Prior to the war, both had retired. Their daughters were employed, and they led a peaceful, well-ordered life. However, this life was abruptly disrupted by the onset of war.  

Tetiana and her husband stayed behind, despite their daughters urging them to come to Romania. They were adamant about not leaving their home. However, on July 29, shortly after midnight, a missile struck their building. 

“We lived in an incredibly beautiful, green area,” Tetiana recalls. “Nothing remained of them. The blast wave shattered the windows and doors in our apartment, destroyed all the furniture, and broke all the household appliances.” Her husband sustained numerous injuries—his face, arm, and leg were pierced by countless tiny glass shards. “We spent three days clearing out the remnants of our former life from the apartment—everything had turned into unusable debris,” Tetiana continues. “Then we began the process of obtaining international passports, as we didn’t have any. During this time, relatives 200 kilometers from Mykolaiv took us in because it was impossible to live in our apartment. Once everything was ready, we traveled to Bucharest.” 

Encounter with JRS 

Just a few days after arriving in Bucharest, we connected with JRS Romania,” Tetiana recalls. “We began attending the activities organized by JRS. Our grandchildren participated in Romanian language classes. I enjoyed the ‘Grandparents’ gatherings. I loved the creative workshops especially designed for seniors, and I never miss the fairs that are regularly organized here. But JRS Romania is about more than just events and services — there’s a special atmosphere here. We often reach out to the staff just for advice, for guidance, or to get the right contacts.” 

Recently, Tetiana and her husband took part in the medical support program offered by JRS Romania. The family requires ongoing access to expensive medication and regular check-ups. “If it weren’t for this program from JRS Romania, we simply wouldn’t have been able to afford these examinations, even though they are essential,” Tetiana shares. “I received prescriptions for additional medications and vitamins, and I was able to purchase them. But without JRS, we could only afford the basics — just the standard medication for diabetics.” 

Integration and Future 

We survive solely on our pensions and the support of organizations. And even then, it’s barely enough, although we both receive pensions slightly above the average. That’s why many people are forced to return to Ukraine — even under shelling — because at least there they don’t have to pay rent, provided their homes are still standing. Any kind of support program, especially when it’s related to health, is a lifeline for many.” 

“We’ve been lucky with the Romanians. We have a great relationship with our neighbors — they often stop by to visit us, and we’ve maintained a friendly connection with the owner of our first rented apartment. We feel nothing but gratitude… Thanks to this kind of treatment, we truly feel like a part of this society.” 

The family still doesn’t know how to rebuild their lives moving forward. For now, as long as they’re able to stay in Romania, they are not considering relocating to any other country. Once the war ends and Mykolaiv is safe, they plan to return home — but not under shelling. 

“I don’t want to return to bombs and rockets. Our mental health has already suffered from the time we spent in Mykolaiv. As for us… there’s nothing left intact in our apartment. The most important thing is safety.” 

JRS is working together with the Xavier Network, the Society of Jesus in Europe, local civil society, and NGOs in a coordinated Jesuit response. Together we help thousands of people like Tetiana.

You can read more about The One Proposal at: jrseurope.org/en/project/the-one-proposal/