Before the war, Svitlana was a kindergarten teacher and music director. She left Ukraine on March 3rda with her 5 children. “There are still many children who remain in Ukraine who are not to blame for anything and are helpless. I could not allow this to happen to my children.”

When they arrived to Romania, JRS helped them with accommodation and expenses. The children received a tablet to help them study and do their homework. As she describes, “The help of JRS is very valuable in a foreign country with different rules and where nothing is familiar to us. It is good to know that we have somewhere to contact and that we will be helped.”

Svitlana wants to stay in Romania until the end of the war. She calls for peace, and she doesn’t lose her hope for better times.

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 Svitlana’s. You can read more about The One Proposal: the coordinated Jesuit response to support the Ukraine Crisis here.