Project description: Establishment of a trauma center
Project partners: Beginning of Life
Project location: Chisinau, Moldova
Target audience: Ukrainian refugees
Project period: Since 2023
Project budget: 18.000 €
Ukrainian refugees face a multitude of challenges, both physical and psychological. The resulting trauma needs to be addressed and processed. Evangelical alliances, churches, and partners have joined forces to provide support and foster relationships that could lay the foundation for peace and reconciliation in Eastern Europe. The Peace and Reconciliation Network (PRN) has responded to the psychological burdens faced by refugees by providing seed funding for a trauma center. There, refugees now have the opportunity to cope with their experiences, find inner stability and renewed hope, and receive support throughout this process.
PRN was able to provide financial support for the work of Beginning of Life (BoL). The BoL team has been working in Chisinau for a long time and has contributed a high level of expertise to the trauma center network connections. They also supported the Latvian and Hungarian centers, which are currently in the establishment phase, with their expertise.
Support for Ukrainian women and people with disabilities
Various support measures were provided, including legal assistance: a lawyer offered support with legal matters, while a translator assisted with notarized translations. Premises were available for the distribution of humanitarian aid. Transportation costs for people with disabilities were covered. The center hosted 59 volunteer events, including creative workshops and therapy sessions organized for Ukrainians and their families.
The results of your support
The project contributed to the integration of Ukrainian refugees in Lithuania by helping them build self-confidence, find support, and establish social connections, especially for single mothers. Growing friendships strengthened the Ukrainian community, which helped reduce conflict. Women assumed leadership roles and passed on their experiences to younger women.
An online reservation system for single mothers facilitated access to aid supplies, which Our House provided. The system will be further improved through collaborations to ensure that support measures reach those in need. The focus was on helping young mothers prepare for childbirth. Many reported that the growing community network made anxious young mothers feel more confident about giving birth. Growing friendships and limited space led to spontaneous networking activities, such as clothing swaps.
Furthermore, the volunteer network grew, and 37 tons of humanitarian aid were distributed. This would not have been possible without the volunteers' commitment. This growth was driven by the clear demonstration of how practical help makes a visible difference.