As 1,000-day milestone passes, IN continues to support Ukrainian refugees

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began 1,000 days ago in February 2022, with millions of lives affected, homes destroyed, livelihoods shattered and families torn apart.

Christian development agency International Needs has been responding to the unfolding disaster in numerous ways since the first missiles landed. Convoys of aid have been moved in to parts of Ukraine most affected by the war, and churches have been encouraged through pastor support groups that have sought to provide help to church leaders.

In Sighisoara, Romania, International Needs supports more than 100 children and young people, and their families. Many of these youngsters have experienced deep trauma as a consequence of what they have seen, heard and witnessed. Having fled their homes in Ukraine with little, they are currently coming to terms with the new reality of life as a refugee.

International Needs provides a pop-up kindergarten for the youngest of these children – a safe place to be, where Ukrainian language and culture can be explored together. Therapeutic activities such as art, crafts and traditional storytelling form part of the daily diet, with Tanya – a trauma-informed psychotherapist – ensuring that everyone is cared for in the most appropriate way.

Many of the children were unable to speak when they arrived in Sighisoara, such was the effect of the terror of war on them. The storytelling therapy particularly has helped youngsters ‘escape’ through fiction to a fantasy world, before Tanya brings them gently back to reality to address some of the feelings that they experience.

She and the kindergarten staff also undertake ‘life story’ work, with children encouraged to use colours, textures and even emoji stickers to help communicate their emotions. Sensory activities are also used to good effect, such as painting, baking and singing.

Project Leader Florin Boruga adds: ‘We try to give value and to help and to just be with these special children which are coming with all kinds of trauma from the war zone. Emotional. Exhausted. The children in a family come to be part of the same therapy together. We are more like a family here. We had many children coming here with very, very big trauma. Some of the children saw the very dark side of the the war. Really, they saw things that I cannot even imagine that a child should see.’

Alongside the kindergarten, International Needs operates a temporary school for slightly older children. They, too, have access to the therapeutic therapies. But they are also learning English, the Romanian language and keeping up with their general literacy and numeracy, to help with their integration into the Sighisoara community.

The pressures on families who have been uprooted are also being addressed by the International Needs team, with home visits providing family therapy to some of the hardest hit. Tragically, some children have been orphaned in the conflict, with families of as many as 12 to 18 children being represented. These are a blend of birth children and adoptees, each requiring specialist help in working through the physical, mental and emotional trauma.

Spiritual health is not forgotten either. An enthusiastic group of around 15 young Ukrainians are currently working through the Youth Alpha programme, in their own language. The sessions are led by the young people themselves, who will sometimes choose to run two or three sessions together. The accompanying adults provide the all-important pizza!

Florin’s wife Paula, who shares responsibility for leading the centre adds: ‘We are seeing a lot of the mums changing their lives. Close to 90% are attending Alpha and I’m so excited about all the meetings where everyone is learning about Jesus.’

The Joy Centre, as it has been named, is an oasis amid the ravages of conflict. Not everyone has come out the other side yet – that will happen at the pace appropriate for each individual. But what has been created is a nurturing and well-regarded community. And a place where it’s OK to wrestle with some of the deepest questions in life.

• International Needs is urgently seeking financial and prayer support for this life-giving ministry, to ensure its operation throughout 2025. Donors can give securely online at https://ineeds.org.uk/appeals/romania-appeal-2024/.