Sharing meals and stories open engaging psychosocial support for Ukrainian mothers in Romania

The war in Ukraine has resulted to massive displacement and women are among the most affected.

From the threat of trafficking and gender-based violence to the loss of livelihoods and rising poverty levels, women and girls are facing severe impacts. 

Most of those who sought refuge in other countries are women who continue to bear different and additional burdens of war. Mothers are left by themselves to raise their children in foreign countries.

To help ease the burden of women especially mothers, World Vision has been providing psychosocial support activities to Ukrainians mothers to enable them to adapt easily in new environment and be able to understand the difficulties their children are going through.

“We invite 30 mothers to come for our Women’s Brunch. We provide venue for them to relax and share stories. We have food and have brunch (combination of the words breakfast and lunch) together,” shared Anna Zinkovska, World Vision Child Protection Officer.

Mothers with children are encouraged to attend as the teachers and facilitators in the Happy Bubble have creative activities and games for the children so mothers can enjoy their free time.

“All of us have left our families, homes and careers to find a safe place for our children, far from the sounds of explosion and bombs that terrify them. I feel recharged just being with other mothers. We experience the same hardship and having each other means a lot,” 35-year-old Elena shared.

All of us have left our families, homes and careers to find a safe place for our children, far from the sounds of explosion and bombs that terrify them. I feel recharged just being with other mothers.

Elena was a broadcast journalist in a tv station in Kyiv. Ten days after the war broke, she fled the city with her four-year-old son Platon. She is now a volunteer in World Vision; she helps the teachers prepare the rooms and materials for children and adults attending several activities and classes.

For Tetiana, coming to the Women’s Brunch has helped process her emotions and experiences. “I felt a heavy load was lifted from my shoulders after I shared my thoughts and feelings to these women, the 44-year-old mother said.

“Having people listening to you and knowing they fully understand because they are also going through the same struggle,” Tetiana added.

The facilitators shared practical tips on how the mothers can manage stress and negative emotions by drawing, journalling, listening to music, walking and other and other creative activities to help them feel better.

“The activities we have here made me realized that there still things in my life that I can be grateful for. I must be more intentional to live in the moment and cherish the time I have with family and friends,” Elena said.

Through the support of Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP), World Vision host Women’s Brunch in its center in Constanta twice a month to support the mothers with psychosocial activities as they rebuild their lives in Romania.

World Vision Ukraine Crisis Response has supported 381,046 women through mental health and psychosocial support, protection, winterization and cash assistance programs in Romania, Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine. Overall, World Vision has assisted 1,074,234 refugees, internally displaced persons and host communities.

Story and photos by Leoniza Morales, Communications Specialist