Over the past two years, Ukraine has transformed into a battleground which has resulted in a massive refugee crisis. Millions of people are escaping to nearby countries. A small Eastern European country called Moldova neighboring Ukraine has welcomed many of these refugees. They have taken in more refugees than any other country in the world, for the size of their own population. The Moldovan government is trying its best to ensure that these refugees are supplied with their basic needs.
Think of a country where there is one refugee for every five people. This is exactly what Moldova is experiencing with more than one million Ukrainians (mostly women and children) having escaped for refuge and a chance to rebuild their lives. This is where you can actively engage and substantially impact the situation. Volunteering in Moldova enables you to directly provide assistance to Ukrainian refugees and support the local refugee center.
Why Volunteer in Moldova for Ukraine?
Joining the volunteering efforts in Moldova to aid Ukrainian refugees presents a unique opportunity for personal and global impact. Your work will directly address the critical needs of those who have lost everything, offering them necessities and emotional support and a chance to rebuild hope for the future. This isn’t about providing aid or charity but rather giving moral support and standing with them during a time of immense hardship. Volunteering in Moldova will not only give you a chance to explore new cultures but, at the same time, open doors to interact and make friends with people of different backgrounds. This cross-cultural experience has a lifelong impact. It helps you develop new skills as well as improve self-confidence coupled with a sense of compassion and being a responsible global citizen.
Who can Volunteer?
United Planet welcomes volunteers of all backgrounds, with or without any related experience. This includes everyone, young and old, experienced and inexperienced onto the same level. Whether you are a college student setting your life goals, a young professional going through the letter for personal development, or a retiree offering your knowledge and wisdom, there is a volunteer opportunity for you. investing your time and skills in a volunteer project can change people’s lives for the better. This opportunity will strengthen your resume and keep you active and engaged. Whether you are an experienced traveler or a fresher volunteer, it’s your passion to help and humbleness that counts.
Programs vary between short-term and mid-term periods from 2 to 16 weeks. This enables you to build meaningful relationships with Ukrainians and make a lasting impression.
Volunteer Projects in Moldova for Ukraine
United Planet works with refugee support centers in Chișinău, Moldova’s capital, to provide a variety of volunteer projects that cater to different interests and skill sets. These centers offer temporary housing, daytime services, and various programs for refugees. Volunteer roles can vary depending on the center’s current needs, ensuring you can contribute your skills in the most impactful way. Here’s a glimpse into some of the projects available:
Overnight Nonprofit Shelter and Support Center
This Moldovan non-profit brings together a passionate team and international volunteers to empower children and uplift the elderly. With a long history of providing hope and assistance, they offer a variety of ways to get involved:
Become a Volunteer: Broaden your skills in administrative support, fundraising, social media, or community engagement.
Share Your Gifts: Storytellers are needed to bring joy, while others can help with food preparation, package distribution, and refugee support.
Empower Newcomers: Assist refugees with relocation, employment searches, and youth activities.
Refugee Day Support Center
This established rehabilitation center (over 20 years strong) is a lifeline for refugees fleeing crisis and victims of inhumane treatment. Facing a surge in need due to the crisis, they are currently operating at 5-7 times their usual capacity. Volunteers are crucial for their mission. Opportunities range from specialized support by medical professionals, social workers, lawyers, and trauma specialists to general assistance with administrative tasks, fundraising, and community engagement. All volunteers play a vital role. Their major goal is the security of the refugees and collaborate with other organizations to provide full support. You can devote your time and expertise to promote growth and rehabilitation of refugees and survivors to resume their normal lives.
Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Twenty years ago, imparted from the experience of Afghan refugees, this center understands the difficulties immigrants experience. They work together with the UNHCR and Moldova’s Bureau of Migration and Asylum to cater to the needs of refugees and asylum seekers to rebuild their lives.
Assimilate refugees into the community by organizing recreational activities, job hunts, and relocation via counseling.
Be a voice for refugees to advocate for their rights and needs.
Assist with administrative activities, fundraising, promotion on social media, community engagement, storytelling, and photography.
Visit refugee centers to help in the distribution of food and supplies, and interact with refugees in person.
Government-Run Refugee Shelter
Moldova’s second-largest refugee center has become a vital haven for Ukrainians displaced by the crisis. Within days, they provided shelter for over 3,400 people, and currently support around 700 Ukrainian citizens, including over 400 children. The center gives refugees a ray of hope by providing them with temporary shelters, relocating them to find a permanent home, legal aid to get their refugee status approved, and organizing children activities to bring refugees a sense of normalcy. If you have a desire to contribute and help this cause, volunteer opportunities are open.
Coordination: Help ensure the smooth operation of the shelter
Documentation: Streamline the processing and documentation of refugees.
Database Development: Build a system to effectively track and manage refugee information.
Relocation Support: Assist refugees with enrolling in flights and other transportation options.
What to Expect as a Volunteer in Moldova
Before you set off on your volunteer journey, let’s talk about what to expect. United Planet offers a variety of volunteer programs in Moldova that fit into any schedule as the duration varies from 2-16 weeks to several months being either short or long-term projects. In addition to that, we will provide extensive training and support programs such as cultural sensitivity training, language instruction (if necessary), and safety briefings to ensure that you are sufficiently competent before taking up volunteer work. Moldova is a developing state and culturally different compared to the Western world. Be prepared to go through exciting experiences and life-changing transitions.
Taking the First Step: How Can You Apply?
If you are ready to begin this adventurous journey and volunteer in Moldova, visit this page for detailed information and the application process.
Benefits of Volunteering in Moldova for Ukraine
Volunteering in Moldova is not just about giving and helping others; it’s about transformation. Your experience in Moldova will include development of lifelong skills, introduction to new perspectives, and memories that will stay with you forever. More importantly, you will be an image of hope for Ukrainian refugees who are going through a time of terrible hardships.
The war in Ukraine may look like a distant conflict, but its effects have been worldwide. By volunteering in Moldova, you contribute to a more united world and gain valuable experience. What would it be like to see the joy in a child’s eyes when you hand them a hot meal? Visualize the release of tension in a mother’s face when you offer a helping hand.
This is your time to be the change you wish to see in the world. United Planet welcomes you to start your journey to volunteer in Moldova and make a positive change in the lives of those who fled Ukraine.
ABOUT UNITED PLANET
United Planet is a non-profit organization with a mission to create a global community, one relationship at a time. Established in 2001, United Planet offers volunteer abroad, virtual internships, internships abroad, gap year volunteering, and global virtual exchange in more than 40 countries.
