Twenty-four-year-old Natalia is from Mykolaiv. Before the war began, she was on maternity leave, with her daughter Lilia being only 1 year old at the time. When the full-scale war started, her husband went to serve in the Ukrainian Armed Forces to defend the country from the enemy. Leaving Ukraine was difficult for Natalia because her husband remained there, but the fear for her daughter Lilia’s life eventually compelled her to leave. Thus, she found herself in Romania.

“It wasn’t easy. It felt like I was on another planet,” Natalia recalls. “Thankfully, my mom was with me. She quickly found a job at a bakery. I wanted to work too, because money was catastrophically scarce. What my mom earned only covered the most basic needs. When the government support program was active, things were a bit easier, but when it ended, I realized we wouldn’t survive unless I worked as well. But the biggest problem was who would take care of little Lilia?”

She learnt from acquaintances that JRS Romania offered an educational hub for Ukrainian children. She reached out to them hoping to enrol her daughter so she could work. “I’m grateful that they understood and supported me. Now, Lilia attends the kindergarten from morning until evening, and my mom and I work at the bakery in two shifts. Is it easy? No. The work is hard. But I’m happy even with this. I’m glad that, thanks to JRS Romania, I can work and provide for my child”, she explains.

This time also allowed her to further integrate into the community. Nataliaa highlights, “I believe my integration here is going successfully. But I understand that without the support of an organization like JRS, it would have been impossible. During my time in Bucharest, I’ve learned the language. Of course, it’s still far from perfect, but I’m trying. I communicate with the local people in Romania, and I can see how pleased they are when they realize a Ukrainian has learned their language”.

Looking forward, Natalia would like to stay in Romania. “I really like Bucharest. We definitely don’t plan on moving to another country. Moreover, I admit that I would really like to stay here. I don’t know how, but I would love to. I want to bring my husband from Ukraine here and continue building our life in Romania”, she underlines.

JRS is working together with the Xavier Network, Concordia Moldova, the Society of Jesus in Europe, local civil society, and NGOs in a coordinated Jesuit response. Together we help thousands of people like Natalia. You can read more about The One Proposal at: jrseurope.org/en/project/the-one-proposal/.