Galina, a 66-year-old refugee woman, fled her country because of the devastating conflict, leaving some of her family and friends behind. She took refuge in the Republic of Moldova with her husband and 2 granddaughters. They are retired and in Moldova they are not employed.

Arriving in a new country, she faced severe trauma, depression and anxiety. Every day, she felt the burden of the past and the uncertainty of the future overwhelming her. During their stay here, the husband had an accident and was hospitalized for more than 2 weeks. All these hardships drained Galina of her strength, because she did not know what would happen next, how she would manage. She was emotionally and physically exhausted.

Through existing refugee groups on social platforms, Galina found out about ADRA Moldova psychological counselling activities and decided to participate as well. At first, she was reluctant and unsure whether professional help could alleviate her suffering. However, she decided to attend the first group session with the psychologist, a small but brave step. In these group PSS meetings, Galina found a safe space where she could express her fears and pain. The psychologist carried out activities to identify and understand the participants’ anxiety and depression triggers. Here Galina learned to manage her negative thoughts and build a new way of seeing things, receiving constant emotional support from professional psychologist.

Also, at group activities, she was able to meet other women who were going through similar situations and share their experiences. These meetings were essential in rebuilding their sense of community and belonging.

As time passed, Galina noticed significant changes in her emotional state. Episodes of depression became less frequent and anxiety began to subside. He rediscovered things that brought her joy, such as hand-made activities and drawing, and began to look with hope to the future.

Psychological support gave Galina not only temporary help, but also tools she can use in the long term to get through life’s challenges. Today, she is an example of resilience and strength, showing that with the right support, any obstacle can be overcome.

„Thank you to the entire ADRA team for their involvement, kindness and care. Because they organized such useful activities for us. I am also very grateful to the sponsors, even if they don’t know us personally, they have a big heart and do not remain indifferent to the trouble of those around them”.